According to Christian Orthodox tradition Christmas falls on January 7th. A little less than half the population in Ethiopia belongs to the Ethiopian Orthodox Christian Church. Christmas in Ethiopia is called Lidet (or Leddat) and is not the religious and secular festival that it is in the West. On Christmas Eve, January 6, the city is crowded with pilgrims and tourists from all parts of the world. The people remain outdoors all night, praying and chanting. On January 7, the Ethiopian Christmas known as Ganna is celebrated. The word Ganna is used interchangeably with the word Christmas, to mean the birth of Jesus Christ (Leddat). Traditionally, young men played a game similar to hockey, called genna, on this day, and now Christmas has also come to be known by that name. The preparation of the feast is an important part of the day in Ethiopia. A typical Ethiopian feast for the Christmas meal includes a main course, such as doro wat ( a spicy chicken stew), injera (a flat round bread) and homemade wine or beer. The injera is used to scoop and eat the food, thereby replacing ordinary utensils. Gift giving in an Ethiopian Christmas celebration is a very small part of this ceremony. Children, if they receive gifts, usually receive simple presents such as clothing.
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