We wish all our friends, customers and our team members across the country a happy Christmas time – Melkam Gena (Happy Christmas know as Gena or Lidet in Ethiopia). As across the Orthodox world it is celebrated a few weeks later than in the west.
But this year (2016 which started on 12 Sept), is different. Last year in the Ethiopian calendar was a leap year, and so until the leap day in the western calendar in February, all dates are knocked back. Because there was an extra day added to the tail-end of last year making the 5 day pagumenical (13th) month into a 6 day version so each Ethiopian date starting with the 1st day of this year – Meskerem 1, falls a day later in the western calendar. So, for example, the big Gabriel holiday (Kulubi Gabriel) which falls on Tahsas 19 this year is on 29 December not the usual 28th as in other years. But Gena is different!
Gena ceremony in Lalibela
Gena is celebrated on Tahsas 29 (the monthly day that celebrates the birth of Christ) which usually falls on 7 January. However as the miraculous conception of Jesus in Mary was in the preceding year Megabit 29 (7 April), most of Ethiopia celebrate Gena on Tahsas 28 this year … which is still on the 7th…. but in Lalibela it will be on the 8th! Understanding Ethiopia is always that bit more complex!
Many Orthodox Christians are currently fasting for advent, a fast that began on 25 November, and means most a vegan diet for 6 weeks.
