GUILLEMELGAT’S CHRISTMAS AROUND THE WORLD | ኢትዮጵያ (Ethiopia)A Nativity scene drawn in traditio
GUILLEMELGAT’S CHRISTMAS AROUND THE WORLD | ኢትዮጵያ (Ethiopia)A Nativity scene drawn in traditional Ethiopian religious art style (source). The Ethiopian Tewahedo Orthodox Church (the main Christian denomination, and main religious denomination in general, in Ethiopia) celebrates Christmas on January 7, similar to other Orthodox Christian traditions. Christmas is referred to as ገና (gänna) or ልደት (lïdät), the second of which translates to ‘Nativity’ or ‘birth’. The most important holiday in the Tewahedo Orthodox tradition is Easter, but the Advent fast, Christmas, and Epiphany (ጥምቀት) are all also important dates in its religious calendar.A procession of Orthodox deacons and bishops during Christmas at the holy city of Lalibela (source). Christmas services, led by Orthodox priests, are the most important part of the Christmas tradition, which is largely religious in comparison to more festive European celebrations.A group singing Mezmur (source). An important part of Tewahedo Orthodox worship is the singing of liturgical music, known as መዝሙር (mäzmur). Though not at all exclusive to Christmas celebrations, it is often performed during them.Pilgrims to the Church of St. George at Lalibela during Christmas (source). Built to be a second Jerusalem, and one of Ethiopia’s holiest cities, ላሊበላ (lalibela) draws in many pilgrims for Christmas celebrations. The hewn-rock churches were built in the 12th century by Emperor Gebre Mesqel Lalibela, and was declared a world heritage site in 1978. Pilgrimage is a common show of devotion for Ethiopian Orthodox members.Worshippers at Lalibela during an overnight Christmas service (source). In the Tewahedo Orthodox tradition, as with some other Christian denominations, the Christmas mass begins at night on Christmas Eve, and often lasts until early in the morning. The candle lighting is traditional.Boys playing the traditional Christmas game of Yegena Chewata (source). In rural areas, especially in the Ethiopian Highlands, there is a traditional Christmas game called የገና ጨዋታ (yägäna c’äwata), which is similar to field hockey. It is many centuries old and its origins are unclear; the apocryphal story of its birth is that shepherds invented it while celebrating the Nativity. It was very popular in the later period of the Ethiopian Empire, but is waning in popularity now.A preparation of the spicy chicken stew eaten on Christmas morning (source). Orthodox Christians in Ethiopia often fast during the Advent period, and after a long night of religious services, they break that fast on Christmas morning with ዶሮ ወጥ (doro wät), a spicy chicken stew. Christmas feasts are common during the day after the service.Ethiopian mead being poured for a customer at a bar in Lalibela (source). Another part of the Christmas feast is ጠጅ (t’äj), a drink made from fermented honey which is one of the most famous Ethiopian beverages. It is not particularly tied to Christmas; it’s drunk as an everyday alcohol as well.Ethiopian boys in traditional clothing (source). Gift-giving is not a tradition for Ethiopian Orthodox Christians, but for Christmas children are generally given a new set of nice clothes. -- source link
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