Christmas in Africa

Christianity appeared in Africa in the 1st Century AD. Nowadays there are about 350 million Christians living in Africa. Christmas in Africa managed to keep lot of its spiritual meaning. It is far less commercialized than in other parts of the World.

Saint Mark's cathedral in Cairo, Egypt

Egyptian Orthodox Christians or Coptic Christians celebrate Christmas on the 7th January. According to their calendar it is the 29th day of the Coptic month of "Kiohk"or "Khiahk". They fast 43 days before Christmas. This is called "Lent fasting". During this period they do not eat meat, fish, eggs and milk. At Christmas Eve there is a special midnight church service. After the service church bells ring. The most famous Coptic church service is held by the Coptic Pope in Saint Mark's cathedral in the Abbassia district of Cairo.

During Christmas church service special bread called "Qurban" is given to people. The bread is also available outside church after the service. In the centre of Qurban there is a cross which is surrounded with twelve dots. These dots represent twelve apostles. After church service people return home and have a special meal called "fatta". The meal usually includes some meat and rice. On Christmas day families visit their friends and neighbours. Children get small amount of money called "El 'aidia". They use the money to buy sweets and toys.

Most Christians in Ethiopia belong to the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. The same as Coptic Christians they celebrate Christmas on the 7th January. They call it "Ganna". It is tradition to fast on Christmas Eve. At dawn of Ganna people traditionally wear white cotton clothes called "shamma". There are some colourful stripes at its ends. Shamma is similar to Roman style toga. Shamma is not obligatory in big towns or cities. Most people there wear western style clothes.

Ganna pilgrimage
Bet Maryam, Lalibela

Lalibela is a famous Ethiopian pilgrimage town located in the north of the country. Each Ganna thousands of pilgrims arrive at local Bet Maryam (Church of the Virgin Mary).

Doro wot with injera

The most important dish eaten at Christmas meal in Ethiopia is a stew called "wot". This spicy stew is made of meat and vegetables. Some people also add eggs. Traditional Ethiopian flat bread called "injera" is used as sort of spoon. People tear up piece of injera and use it to scoop up mouthful.

On the 19th January Ethiopians celebrate a holiday called "Timkat." Timkat lasts for three days. On Timkat people celebrate the baptism of Jesus Christ. Special procession is organized. Children wear crowns and clothes of local church youth group. Adults wear the above mentioned shamma. Priests wear read and white clothes. They also carry colourful umbrellas. Traditional music is performed. There is also a traditional game called "yeferas guks". It is played by a group of male riders throwing wooden or bamboo lances at each other. There is no exchange of presents during Ganna and Timkat. Children sometimes get money for new clothes from their family members.