Edited by Azizi Powell
This pancocojams post provides information about Christmas in Ethiopia.
This post also showcases four videos of Christmas in Ethiopia, East Africa.
The Addendum to this post showcases a video of Ethiopian celebration of Christmas in Minnesoata (USA).
This is Part VI of an ongoing pancocojams series on "Christmas in Africa". Click that tag for more posts in this series.
The content of this post is presented for cultural and entertainment purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post. Thanks also to all those who are featured in these videos and thanks to the producers and publishers of these videos on YouTube.
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INFORMATION ABOUT CHRISTMAS IN ETHIOPIA
From https://people.howstuffworks.com/culture-traditions/holidays-christmas/christmas-traditions-around-the-world-ga4.htm
"Ethiopia is one of the oldest nations in Africa. It still follows the ancient Julian calendar, so Ethiopians celebrate Christmas on January 7. The Ethiopian Orthodox Church's celebration of Christ's birth is called Ganna. It is a day when families attend church.
The day before Ganna, people fast all day. The next morning at dawn, everyone dresses in white. Most Ethiopians don a traditional shamma, a thin, white cotton wrap with brightly colored stripes across the ends. The shamma is worn somewhat like a toga. Urban Ethiopians might put on white Western garb. Then everyone goes to the early mass at four o'clock in the morning. In a celebration that takes place several days later, the priests will dress in turbans and red and white robes as they carry beautifully embroidered fringed umbrellas.
Most Ethiopians who live outside the modern capital city, Addis Ababa, live in round mud-plastered houses with cone-shaped roofs of thatched straw. In areas where stone is plentiful, the houses may be rectangular stone houses. The churches in Ethiopia echo the shape of the houses. In many parts of the country there are ancient churches carved out of solid volcanic rock. Modern churches are built in three concentric circles.
In a modern church, the choir assembles in the outer circle. Each person entering the church is given a candle. The congregation walks around the church three times in a solemn procession, holding the flickering candles. Then they gather in the second circle to stand throughout the long mass, with the men and boys separated from the women and girls. The center circle is the holiest space in the church, where the priest serves Holy Communion.
Around the time of Ganna, the men and boys play a game that is also called ganna. It is somewhat like hockey, played with a curved stick and a round wooden ball.
The foods enjoyed during the Christmas season include wat, a thick, spicy stew of meat, vegetables, and sometimes eggs as well. The wat is served from a beautifully decorated watertight basket onto a "plate" of injera, which is flat sourdough bread. Pieces of injera are used as an edible spoon to scoop up the wat.
Twelve days after Ganna, on January 19, Ethiopians begin the three-day celebration called Timkat, which commemorates the baptism of Christ. The children walk to church services in a procession. They wear the crowns and robes of the church youth groups they belong to. The grown-ups wear the shamma. The priests will now wear their red and white robes and carry embroidered fringed umbrellas.
The music of Ethiopian instruments makes the Timkat procession a very festive event. The sistrum is a percussion instrument with tinkling metal disks. A long, T-shaped prayer stick called a makamiya taps out the walking beat and also serves as a support for the priest during the long church service that follows. Church officials called dabtaras study hard to learn the musical chants, melekets, for the ceremony.
Ethiopian men play another sport called yeferas guks. They ride on horseback and throw ceremonial lances at each other.
Ganna and Timkat are not occasions for giving gifts in Ethiopia. If a child receives any gift at all, it is usually a small gift of clothing. Religious observances, feasting, and games are the focus of the season. "
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SHOWCASE VIDEOS
Video #1: Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church Christmas Song TTEOTV 4-4
TTEOTV, Published on Jan 6, 2009
Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church Christmas Song "The savior of the world is born today"
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Video #2: Zemarit Tsedale Gobeze Akotet Ze Tewahdo Ethiopian Christmas Special program "TTEOTV"
TTEOTV Published on Jan 16, 2012
Akotet Ze Tewahdo Ethiopian Christmas Special program "TTEOTV"
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Video #3: Christmas preparations in Ethiopia
VideoNews, Published on Dec 21, 2015
ADDIS ABABA,ETHIOPIA - DECEMBER 21: People walk past decorated street with illuminations for Christmas celebrations at a local shopping center in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on December 21, 2015.
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Video #4: Christmas Celebration at Lalibela
ዘተዋሕዶ, Published on Jan 8, 2016
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ADDENDUM: Ethiopian Christmas (Gena) Holiday Celebration in Minnesota 2018
Habeshaw Abel, Published on Jan 8, 2018
Ethiopian Orthodox Church celebrate Christmas on January 7th, not December 25th! The Christmas celebration in the Ethiopian Orthodox Church is called Gena or ልደተ-ለእግዚእነ. Most people go to Church on Christmas day.
Many people take part in a special Advent fast during the 43 days before Christmas. It starts on 25th November and is known as the 'Fast of the Prophets' (Tsome Nebiyat). During this time only vegan meal is eaten each day.
For Gena, people get dressed in white. Most people wear a traditional clothing called a Netela. It's a thin white cotton piece of cloth with brightly colored stripes across the ends. People go to church on Christmas Eve at 6.00pm and the service finishes about 3.00am. On Gena, families get together and celebrate the holiday.
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