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Genna, known as Ethiopian Christmas, is celebrated on January 7th according to the Ethiopian Orthodox calendar. This festive day marks the birth of Jesus Christ and is one of the most important religious holidays in Ethiopia. The celebration begins with a solemn midnight mass, where worshippers gather in churches to pray, sing hymns, and participate in the divine liturgy. Genna is a time for families to come together, often enjoying a traditional feast that includes injera, doro wat (chicken stew), and other local delicacies.
Timket, the Ethiopian celebration of Epiphany, is one of the grandest and most colorful festivals in the country. Held on January 19th (or January 20th in leap years), Timket commemorates the baptism of Jesus Christ in the Jordan River. The highlight of the festival is the procession of the “Tabot”—a replica of the Ark of the Covenant—from the church to a nearby body of water, symbolizing the Jordan River. The celebration begins with an overnight vigil, followed by a lively procession, prayers, and a reenactment of the baptism.
Meskel, celebrated on September 27th (or 28th in leap years), is one of Ethiopia’s most significant religious holidays, commemorating the discovery of the True Cross by Empress Helena in the 4th century. The festival is marked by the lighting of a large bonfire, known as the “Demera,” symbolizing the cross and the divine light that led to its discovery. Meskel celebrations are particularly grand in Addis Ababa’s Meskel Square, where thousands gather for the lighting of the bonfire, accompanied by prayers, hymns, and vibrant processions of priests dressed in colorful robes.
