Ethiopian Christmas (Amharic: ገና[a]; Oromo: Ayaana; Tigrinya: ልደት[b]) is a holiday celebrated by the Ethiopian Orthodox and Eritrean Orthodox churches, as well as Protestant and Catholic denominations in Ethiopia, on 7 January (Tahsas 29 in the Ethiopian calendar).
| Ethiopian Christmas | |
|---|---|
 Vigil lightening at Lalibela during Christmas | |
| Observed by | |
| Type | Eastern Christian |
| Significance | Birth of Jesus |
| Celebrations | |
| Date | 7 January |
| Frequency | Annual |
| Related to | Christmas |
One of the distinct features of Ethiopian Christmas is a traditional game similar to hockey. The game is believed to have evolved from the shepherds tending their flocks on the night Jesus was born.[1][2]
Overview
editEthiopian Christmas is celebrated on 7 January (Tahsas 29 in the Ethiopian calendar) as the day of Jesus' birth, alongside the Russian, Greek, Eritrean and Serbian Orthodox Churches.[3] It is also celebrated by Protestant and Catholic denominations in the country.[4]
Ethiopian Orthodox Christians are expected to fast for 43 days, a period known as Tsome Nebiyat or the Fast of the Prophets. Fasting also includes abstaining from all animal products and psychoactive substances, including meat and alcohol. Starting on 25 November, the fast believed to be "cleansing the body of sin" as they await the birth of Jesus.[5]
Festivities
editOn Christmas Day, a thin white cotton garment called netela is worn. On the Christmas Eve, Ethiopian Christians attend an overnight church service, usually starting around 6:00pm and finishing at 3:00am. People line up surrounding a church and begin a long, looping procession around the circumference of the church. The festivities are a communal experience and a commitment of faith.[5] The holiday attracts pilgrimages to the Lalibela Churches.[6]
Gena
editGena (ገና) or Qarsa (ቃርሳ) is a traditional field hockey game popular in the Ethiopian highlands.[5][7]
Gena is a game played in the space between villages, a field of about 100 yards, but with no defined boundaries.[8] It is played among two teams who attempt to throw a wooden ball in the air and hit it with sticks, the goal being to prevent the opposing team from bring the ball to their village, or score it in your goal.[9][10]
The game is closely associated with Gena, the January 7 celebration of Christmas, from which it gets its name along with another, rugby-like, sport.[11] Historically, Imperial Ethiopian soldiers acquired proficiency in weapon use from a young age by being trained from childhood with games such as Akandura (Darts) and Gena, which imitated combat.
See also
edit- Meskel – Ethiopian and Eritrean Tewahedo Church holiday, observed on 27 or 28 September
- Public holidays in Ethiopia
Notes
edit- ^ transliterated as Genna or Ganna
- ^ transliterated as Ledet or Leddat
References
edit- ^ "Ethiopian Christmas in Ethiopia in 2023". Office Holidays. Retrieved 2022-09-29.
- ^ JPC-DESIGN, whychristmas?com /. "Christmas in Ethiopia on whychristmas?com". www.whychristmas.com. Retrieved 2022-09-29.
- ^ "Introducing the Ethiopian Christmas! | Tana Forum". Retrieved 2022-09-29.
- ^ "Ethiopians celebrate Genna / Christmas today – New Business Ethiopia". 7 January 2022. Retrieved 2022-09-29.
- ^ a b c "Christmas in Ethiopia | Brilliant Ethiopia". www.brilliant-ethiopia.com. Retrieved 2022-09-29.
- ^ Admin (2022-01-07). "Ethiopian Christmas - Orthodox Christmas - celebrated". Borkena Ethiopian News. Retrieved 2022-09-29.
- ^ Graham, John (7 September 2001). Ethiopia: Off the Beaten Trail. Addis Ababa: Shama Books. p. 167. ISBN 9781931253116. OCLC 51553876.
- ^ Wolde-Georgis, Tsegay (30 November 2004). "Holiday Celebrations among the Highlanders of Ethiopia". In Fuller, Linda K. (ed.). National Days/National Ways: Historical, Political, and Religious Celebrations around the World. West Port, Connecticut: Greenwood Publishing Group. pp. 92, 99. ISBN 9780275972707. OCLC 547274920.
- ^ Lord, Edith (1970). Queen of Sheba's heirs: cultural patterns of Ethiopia. Acropolis Books. p. 53. ISBN 978-0874910117. OCLC 117120.
- ^ Crawley, Michael (4 October 2016). "The two-hour marathon: who is it for?". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 30 January 2017. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
- ^ Kagwanja, Peter (24 December 2016). "Shield Christmas fete from the perils of capitalist". Daily Nation. Archived from the original on 30 January 2017. Retrieved 30 January 2017.