In 2025, Genna / Qeddus Ganna (Ethiopian Christmas) will be celebrated on January 7, 2025 (Tuesday), which corresponds to Tahsas 29, 2017 E.C. in the Ethiopian calendar.
Celebrated following 43 days of fasting known as the Fast of the Prophets (Tsome Nebiyat), Genna honors the Nativity of Jesus Christ. Ethiopian Orthodox Christians follow the ancient Julian/Alexandrian calendar, placing Christmas on January 7 Gregorian (or January 8 in leap years). According to Ethiopian lore, when local shepherds heard of Christ's birth, they rejoiced and spontaneously broke into a spirited traditional hockey game using bent wooden sticks and a wooden ball, which became known as 'Yegena Chewata'.
Genna / Qeddus Ganna (Ethiopian Christmas) in 2025 takes place on January 7, 2025 (Tuesday). On the Ethiopian calendar, this date is Tahsas 29, 2017 E.C. (ታኅሣሥ ፳፱ ቀን ፳፻፲፯ ዓ.ም.).
Yes. It is an official federal public holiday throughout Ethiopia. All federal and regional ministries, commercial banks, universities, schools, and major financial institutions remain closed.
The most common greeting is "መልካም የገና በዓል!" (Melkam Ye'Genna Ba'al!), which means "Merry Christmas!". The traditional response is "እንኳን አብሮ አደረሰን!" (May we share in the blessing together!).
Celebrations traditionally feature Doro Wat with seasoned boiled eggs, Sega Wat (tender slow-cooked beef stew) and Alicha Wat (mild turmeric lamb stew), Freshly baked Ayib (mild Ethiopian cottage cheese) and Gomen (collard greens sautéed in garlic and ginger), Defo Dabo bread blessed and broken by the head of the household, served with fresh Injera flatbread and traditional hospitality.
Holiday gatherings in Ethiopia and the diaspora are filled with precious elder stories, church liturgies, and songs. Record them on your phone, and let Andebet transcribe every word in Amharic, Afaan Oromo, or Tigrinya into native Ge'ez fidel and Latin scripts.