Ethiopians celebrating Christmas

Christmas is a major holiday in Ethiopia. More than half of the population of Ethiopia is Orthodox Christian. On Christmas Eve, January 6, the city is crowded with pilgrims and tourists from all parts of the world. The people remain outdoors all night, praying and chanting.  This celebration takes place in ancient churches carved from solid volcanic rock of that day and also in more modern churches that are designed in three concentric circles. Men and boys sit separately from the girls and women. People receive candles as they enter their church. After lighting the candles, everyone walks around the church three times, and then they all stand throughout the church service which may last up to three hours. After the service, the rest of the day is spent dancing, playing sports and feasting.

History

Ethiopia is one of the oldest nations dating back to 2500 B.C.  They converted to Christianity in the early 4^th century around 330 making them also one of the oldest Christian nations. Ethiopia still uses the old Julian calendar today, so they celebrate Christmas (known to them as Ganna) on January 7^th. Ganna is followed by another celebration unique to Ethiopia known as Timkat.  Let’s take a closer look at both of these celebrations.

Ganna

No, you won’t find any Christmas trees, twinkling lights or many gifts being given during Christmas time in Ethiopia.  Nevertheless, this does not reduce the enchantment and boundless spirituality involved in the Ganna celebrations.  For Ethiopians this holiday time is marked by good food, church services, time spent with family and traditional games.  Ganna begins by fasting the entire day prior to January 7th.  At dawn on the morning of, Ethiopians dress in all white usually donning a traditional shamma (a thin white cotton piece of cloth with brightly colored stripes across the ends)and head to church around 4am.  Mass can last 3+ hours and there are no chairs, leaving Ethiopian men, women and children standing during the length of the service.

Women in traditional shamma.
Photo credit: Creative Commons

Church

As people enter the church a single candle is handed to them to pay homage to the Holy Trinity.  The people proceed to walk around their church three times in a solemn procession, holding their lit candle. The perimeter represents the first circle. Then worshippers go to the second circle to stand during the service, with the men and boys separated from the women and girls. The center circle is the most important and holy place in the church; it is where the priest serves Holy Communion.

Lighting the candles.
Photo credit: Creative Commons

Food

After mass the feasting begins.  Part of the Ganna tradition usually involves purchasing a goat or cow, and slaughtering it for the stew.  Ethiopians eat traditional dishes of “wat” which is a spicy thick stew that contains meat, lentils, vegetables and sometimes egg.  These stews are served family style on top of a huge piece of injera.  Injera is a traditional Ethiopian bread that looks like a giant pancake and tastes similar to sourdough.  Smaller pieces of injera are rolled up on the sides and used as an edible spoon to scoop up the wat.

Photo credit: Global Munchkins

Games

Next men and boys gather to play a ball and stick game also known as Ganna. It is a brutal, high injury potential game similar to field hockey but with less rules. Players use a curved stick and a round wooden ball. The goal is to try and knock a rur, or wooden ball, into a small hole in the ground.  This game is anything but peaceful. But is played because according to local tradition, the biblical shepherds were playing this game while tending their flocks on the night that Jesus was born. It is also Ethiopian tradition that one of the wise men that visited Jesus was from Ethiopia.

Timkat

Twelve days after Ganna, Ethiopians celebrate another festival known as Timkat.  Timkat is the most important Christian holiday in Ethiopia.  It commemorates the Epiphany, or the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River by John the Baptist.

A Timkat procession.
Photo credit: Creative Commons

During Timkat children walk to church services in a procession. They wear colorful crowns and robes. Their grown-up counterparts wear a shamma and follow the priests, wearing their red and white robes and carrying beautiful embroidered fringed umbrellas, toward the water. The priests lead the people to the water, so they can bless them and cleanse them of their sins by splashing water onto them. It is a symbolic way for them to renew their baptism each year. During Timkat Ethiopian men play another sport called Yeferas Guks where they ride on horseback and through ceremonial lances at each other.  More food, coffee and dancing follows.

An Ethiopian coffee ceremony.
Photo credit: Global Munchkins

Ethiopians are some of the most warm and welcoming people I have ever met.  I have been invited to weddings, into homes and out to restaurants by complete strangers.  As much as I love my Christmas tree and giving gifts to loved ones I have to say it is somewhat inspiring to stand captivated surrounded by so many spiritually connected and passionate individuals on such a sacred holiday. I hope one day you get to visit Ethiopia to experience its beauty and hospitality.