Genna — Ethiopian Christmasገና

The fast of Advent

Genna is preceded by Tsome Nebiyat, the Fast of the Prophets — an Advent of roughly forty-three days during which observant Christians abstain from meat and animal products. The fast makes the feast that follows all the more meaningful: it is broken only after the Christmas liturgy.

How Genna is celebrated

On the eve of Genna, the faithful gather at church dressed in the white netela, a thin cotton shawl. The service runs through the night, moving between chant, prayer and procession, and ends around dawn. Many make a pilgrimage to Lalibela, where the rock-hewn churches host one of Ethiopia's most remarkable Christmas gatherings.

After the fast is broken, families share a feast of injera with doro wat and other rich dishes. Gifts are modest — Genna is centred on faith and family rather than commerce. Traditionally, boys and young men play genna, a fast field game resembling hockey that gives the holiday its popular name.

Greeting someone at Genna

A warm greeting is “Melkam Genna” (መልካም ገና) — “Merry Christmas.” Sending a card is a heartfelt way to share the day with family and friends around the world.