Ethiopian Christmas

Ethiopian Christmas
Vigil lightening at Lalibela, Ethiopia during Christmas
Vigil lightening at Lalibela during Christmas
Observed by
TypeEastern Christian
SignificanceBirth of Jesus
Celebrations
Date7 January
FrequencyAnnual
Related toChristmas

Ethiopian Christmas (Amharic: ገና[a]; Oromo: Ayaana; Tigrinya: ልደት[b]) is a holiday celebrated by the Ethiopian Orthodox and Eritrean Orthodox churches, as well as Protestant and Catholic denominations in Ethiopia, on 7 January (Tahsas 29 in the Ethiopian calendar).

One of the district features of Ethiopian Christmas is a traditional game similar to hockey. The game is believed to have evolved from the shepherds tending their flocks on the night Jesus was born.[1][2]


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  1. ^ "Ethiopian Christmas in Ethiopia in 2023". Office Holidays. Retrieved 2022-09-29.
  2. ^ JPC-DESIGN, whychristmas?com /. "Christmas in Ethiopia on whychristmas?com". www.whychristmas.com. Retrieved 2022-09-29.