In Ethiopia, the Christmas celebration held on January 7 is called Genna.
Genna is observed by Ethiopian Christians according to the calendar used by the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church. The date corresponds to Tahsas 29 in the Ethiopian calendar, and the holiday commemorates the birth of Jesus. The name is also written Ganna, while Ledet or Leddat are additional names for Ethiopian Christmas.
The celebration combines worship, pilgrimage, fasting, and communal festivities. Many Orthodox Christians undertake a 43-day fast before Christmas, avoiding animal products before attending church services. Pilgrims especially visit the rock-hewn churches of Lalibela, where Christmas observances can include night vigils and processions.
A lively field game called gena is also associated with the holiday. Played with sticks and a wooden ball, it resembles hockey and is traditionally linked with shepherds. Genna should not be confused with Timkat, Ethiopia’s January festival celebrating the baptism of Jesus, or Enkutatash, the Ethiopian New Year in September.