Europe is halfway into the Christmas season, but in Ethiopia, Genna has not even started. Following the Julian calendar, Genna will not take place until the 7th of January, but before that day, Ethiopian Orthodox people will have gone through a 43-day fasting period during which only vegan meals are eaten.
The 7th of January will begin at the Orthodox church with a mass at 12:30 am, where everyone must attend wearing a traditional white cotton cloth. Furthermore, there are other different celebrations taking place according to each Christian faith. Once all ceremonies at the church are over, it is time for food and traditional coffee, as meals are a key part of the Genna celebrations. On this day, a freshly killed lamb is served together with Doro Wet (chicken stew) and Defo Dabo (large round bread).
Even though the Genna season mainly focuses on religious celebrations, family gatherings and feasting, an exchange of gifts, in which parents take the opportunity to buy their kids new clothes, also takes place.
Furthermore, there is also time for a traditional game during Genna celebrations, although it is mostly played in rural areas. The game in question involves a curved stick and round wooden ball and it is played by men and young boys. As stated by an old Ethiopian legend, these games were initiated by the shepherds in the biblical times as a way of celebrating the birth of the Messiah.
Written by Sena Kinati
Edited by Tamara Muñoz
Photos: www.flickr.com/photos/pal_pics/
