That magic Christmas time in Ethiopia

In Ethiopia, Christmas, or else called Genna, reminds a bit of a big festival with people dressed in their best clothes gathering in the streets to celebrate together. The country's beautiful highlands start getting into the festive mood from January, as the Christmas day for most Ethiopians starts on the 7th of January.

Ethiopia's religious landscape is diverse. All Abrahamic religions such as Christianity, Islam, and Judaism are practiced for centuries. Christianity is practiced there in many forms, such as the Ethiopian Orthodoxy, Pentay, Roman Catholic, etc. However, the main country’s Christmas activities are celebrated at the center of local Ethiopian Orthodox churches.

Christmas spirit

Christmas attributes that are well known in many countries, such as Christmas trees, Santa Claus, or gift-giving, are not traditionally part of the country's Christmas culture. The focus is rather on the community and spiritual aspects of the celebration.

The view of women dressed in white traditional dress, kids wearing the crowns and robes, adults wearing traditional clothes called Shamma, and priests in their red and white robes add to the country’s festive mood. People usually chant, sing, and pray till late at night. 

Traditional food

Like everywhere else, food is an important part of Christmas in Ethiopia. One of the most traditional Christmas dishes is a thick spicy stew with chicken and whole boiled eggs. It is also popular to eat a freshly killed lamb for mutton tibs together with Injera - the traditional sour fermented flatbread made of teff. As for sweets, they are quite rare in Ethiopian cuisine. However, traditional Ethiopian honey bread called Defo Dabo and sweet honey wine called Tej are quite popular during various celebrations, including Christmas as well.