MY GIFT TO YOU—GET YOUR FREE EBOOK—“THE 5-DAY JOURNEY TO CULTURAL AWARENESS”!
Welcome to Ethiopia—the 10th “Country of Christmas”!
Who says Christmas has to be celebrated on December 25?
In Ethiopia, it’s not! Christmas is celebrated on January 7.
“Most people actually call the holiday Ganna or Genna after a hockey-like ball game played only once a year—on Christmas afternoon.”
Green Global Travel
On this special day of celebration, everyone wears white clothes.
“Most people wear a traditional garment called a Netela. It’s a thin white cotton piece of cloth with brightly colored stripes across the ends. It’s worn like a shawl or toga.”
WhyChristmas.com
Many people go to church mass on Christmas Eve (called the Gahad of Christmas) at 6.00 p.m. The service usually finishes about 3.00 a.m. on Christmas Day.
Now, that’s what I call a long church service—9 hours!
Hockey and Stew Anyone?
Around this annual Christmas celebration, the men and boys in Ethiopia play a sport called Ganna. It’s a fast-paced game played with a curved stick and a round wooden ball—like hockey.
You can catch a glimpse of this unique game here . . .
Food is also an important part of their cultural celebration.
“Traditional Christmas foods in Ethiopia include ‘wat’ which is a thick and spicy stew that contains meat, vegetables, and sometimes eggs. Wat is eaten on a plate of ‘injera‘—a flat bread. Pieces of the injera are used as an edible spoon to scoop up the wat.”
WhyChristmas.com
One last Christmas tidbit on Ethiopia—It’s believed that one of the Wise Men who visited Jesus at the time of his birth came from Ethiopia. Now, that is certainly something to be proud of!
MERRY CHRISTMAS, Ethiopia!
—THE CULTURAL STORY-WEAVER
MY GIFT TO YOU—GET YOUR FREE EBOOK—“THE 5-DAY JOURNEY TO CULTURAL AWARENESS”!
LET’S WEAVE CULTURES!
What about you? What are some interesting Christmas traditions in your family or culture, or in other countries you have visited?
We invite you to tell us your own cultural stories and global adventures . . . as you engage with the world, breaking down barriers, building bridges, and “weaving cultures”! Write about them in the comment box below.
