Ethiopia’s Christmas tradition of Ganna usually celebrates Christmas on 7 January.
The date follows the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church’s calendar, which places Christmas, known as Genna or Ganna, on 7 January in the Gregorian calendar. The celebration commemorates the birth of Jesus and includes church services, fasting beforehand for many observant Christians, and communal gatherings.
On Christmas Eve, worshippers may attend long services that continue through the night. White clothing is common at Ethiopian Orthodox celebrations, and churches can be filled with singing, prayer and processions. The day also has a strong sporting association: a traditional field game called genna is often played during the holiday period.
Ethiopian Christmas is not a different Christian feast from Christmas elsewhere; the date difference mainly reflects calendar practice. The Ethiopian calendar is related to the ancient Coptic calendar and differs from the Gregorian calendar used internationally.