Next: 7 Jan 2027
Genna
Ethiopian Christmas on 7 January: a fast, a pre-dawn church service in white and the game of genna.
When is Genna in 2027?
Genna 2027 is on Thursday, 7 January 2027. Other years: 2026, Wednesday, 7 January 2026; 2028, Friday, 7 January 2028.
About Genna
Genna, the Ethiopian Christmas, falls on 29 Tahsas, usually 7 January. After 43 days of fasting, the Fast of the Prophets, on Christmas Eve the faithful put on traditional white cotton shamma and netela, and walk to the church before dawn with candles. Services last for hours, with the priests chanting with drums and sistra in a procession around the church three times. Afterward, people return to break the fast with doro wat, a spicy chicken stew with boiled eggs, injera and homemade drinks. In the afternoon, men and boys play a game on the field also called genna, with sticks and a ball, similar to hockey, in which teams contest the ball with joy. Gifts are modest, and Christmas trees are not usual.
Genna dates: 2026, 2027, 2028
| Year | Genna date |
|---|---|
| 2026 | Wednesday, 7 January 2026 |
| 2027 | Thursday, 7 January 2027 |
| 2028 | Friday, 7 January 2028 |
What is eaten
- doro wat
- injera
- tej
Also part of it, and being written: Doro wat (The chicken stew of the feast.), Genna (The stick-and-ball game.), Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church (The church of the day.).
Written by the EveryParampara desk with AI assistance. Background: "Ethiopian Christmas" on Wikipedia. Customs differ from place to place and family to family. If this is your tradition and we have it wrong, tell us.