Women dressed in traditional costumes sing Christmas carols as they gather to celebrate the Orthodox Christmas at a compound of the National Architecture museum in Kiev, Jan. 7, 2016. Photo: REUTERS/VALENTYN OGIRENKO
While several countries are getting ready to return to work after New Year parties, celebrations are just beginning in others. Orthodox Christian communities, including Greek Catholics and Coptic Christians, around the world are preparing for Christmas, which they celebrate on Jan. 7, nearly two weeks after the Dec. 25 festivities.
Christmas is observed on Jan. 7 by 15 different Eastern Orthodox churches. Nearly 39 percent of the total number of Orthodox Christians in the world live in Russia and around 85 percent of them choose to celebrate Christmas in January.
The difference in dates is a result of the calendar Orthodox Christians follow. These communities follow the Julian calendar, dating back to 46 B.C., according to which Christmas falls on Jan. 7. Also called the Russian Orthodox calendar, this was devised by Roman leader Julius Caesar.
Meanwhile most of the West follows the Gregorian calendar, also called the “Western calendar,” introduced by Pope Gregory in 1582 to correct mistakes in the Julian calendar.
While Orthodox Christian communities follow the Julian calendar, their country’s government doesn’t necessarily do the same. For example, the Russian Orthodox Church follows the Julian calendar but the Russian government functions as per the “Western calendar.”
Communities observe different traditions in celebrating the season. Many Orthodox Christians, Greek Catholics and Coptic Christians abstain from consuming meat and alcohol in the 40 days leading up to Jan. 7 and even fast on Christmas eve, Jan. 6. Many attend Christmas eve service usually held in the evening.
Communities is Russia and Ukraine consume a 12-course meal, free of dairy and meat products, on Christmas eve. The 12 courses draw a parallel to the 12 apostles chosen by Jesus Christ. Then on Christmas day, people go out carolling.
In Ethiopia, communities celebrate with church services and sporting events and in Serbia, people hunt for an oak branch to decorate their homes with.
Ethiopian Christmas – Genna (7 January)
Christmas in Ethiopia. Ethiopia (and especially the Ethiopian Orthodox Church) still use the old Julian calendar, so they celebrate Christmas on January 7th, not December 25th! The Christmas celebration in the Ethiopian Orthodox Church is called Ganna. Most people go to Church on Christmas day.
While the Gregorian calendar celebrates Christmas on the 25th of December, Ethiopia still retains the ancient Julian calendar in which Christmas falls on January 7th (of the Gregorian calendar.) Its typically, a hot summer day and people in towns and villages dress up in their finest to celebrate.
The Ethiopian name given to Christmas is Ledet or Genna which, according to elders, comes from the word Gennana, meaning “imminent” to express the coming of the Lord and the freeing of mankind from sin. Genna is also the name given to a hockey-like ball game. Legend has it that when shepherds heard of the birth of Christ they rejoiced and started playing the game with their sticks. Men and boys in villages now play the traditional Genna game with great enthusiasm in the late afternoon of Christmas day, a spectacle much enjoyed by village communities and the elders who referee the game.
Genna festivities begin early in the day, as early as 6:00am when people gather in churches for mass. For the clergy it has begun much earlier, 43 days before, with the fasting period leading up to Genna. This pensive fasting period is required of the clergy and is known as the fast of the prophets. The fast of Advent is carried out to cleanse the body and soul in preparation for the day of the birth of Christ. Everyone stands throughout the worship service for up to three hours. The clergy and Debtera (scholars versed in the liturgy and music of the church) lift their voices in hymn and chant just as it has been for over a 1,500 years when Ethiopia accepted Christianity. This ancient rite culminates in the spectacular procession of the Tabot (the Tabot is symbolic of the Ark of the Covenant) and carried on top of a priest’s head). The procession makes its way three times around the church amidst ululation and chiming church bells, dazzling umbrellas and colorful attire of the clergy and Debteras (especially designated to accompany the Tabot) as well as a throng of Christians who follow the procession with lighted candles.
Afterwards, people disperse to their homes to feast and the clergy break their fast. Food and drink are plentiful, with many homes preparing the special meals characteristic of all big festivities highlighted on the Ethiopian calendar. Food served at Christmas includes Doro Wat and Injera, a spicy chicken stew eaten with the sourdough pancake-like bread. Often, tej, a local wine-like drink made from honey, accompanies the feast.
A 40-Day Vegan Fast, Then, At Last, A January Christmas Feast
Christmas is quietly shared and celebrated in groups of friends and family. Gift giving is a very small part of Christmas festivities in Ethiopia. Only small gifts are exchanged amongst family and friends at home. But one gift most eagerly awaited by all children is a new outfit that they wear with pride on Christmas Day. The festive mood continues until the late hours of the evening. The joy of giving and sharing, extends beyond religious beliefs and spreads the spirit of peace on earth and goodwill to all mankind throughout the world.
As well, in the old days Gena used to be memorable for a game associated with the holiday. The game is more like field hockey –except that you have to imagine it without an iced ground. The song for the game gives the narrative that even dignitaries and nobilities, in the old days, are pleased with and encourage the game.
Ethiopian Christmas Game (Yegena Chewata)