Ethiopia Celebrates Unique Christmas Traditions with Doro Wat and 43-Day Fast

Ethiopia celebrates Christmas, known as Genna or Ganna, with a vibrant blend of spiritual and ancient traditions. The celebration kicks off with a 43-day fast leading up to Christmas Eve on January 6th.

In cities like Addis Ababa and the holy city of Lalibela, people dress in white shawls called netela shamma and attend candlelit church services. The traditional Christmas meal includes Doro Wat, a rich chicken stew served with injera flatbread.

Ethiopia follows the Julian calendar, leading to a January 7th celebration. The unique cultural celebrations highlight the country's rich heritage and deep-rooted traditions.