This archive report was first published on 7 January 2020.
On January 7, 2020, Ethiopian Christians marked their unique Christmas celebrations, known as Genna, amidst calls for national unity and togetherness.
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and religious leaders of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, Ethiopian Catholic Church, and the Evangelical Churches Fellowship of Ethiopia wished Christians a happy Christmas, emphasizing the importance of kindness and unity during the celebrations.
Ethiopia uses a unique calendar that counts its year seven to eight years behind the Gregorian calendar, resulting in Christmas celebrations taking place about 10 days after the rest of the world.
During Genna, Ethiopian Christians participate in church services, enjoy special foods and drinks, visit and exchange seasonal greetings with friends, neighbors, and relatives.
Traditional foods include 'Doro Wot,' a spicy chicken stew, eaten with 'Injera,' a sourdough-risen flatbread made of teff flour.
Games such as 'Yegenna Chewata,' a hockey-like game, are also played during the celebrations.
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed stressed that 'celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ is a holiday of unity, which marks dissolution of separation and enmity.'
