GANNA

 

Christmas in Ethiopia is known as Ganna and as the orthodox Ethiopian church uses the old Julian calendar and is celebrated on January 7th.

The most spiritual place experience a traditional Ganna is in Lalibela, which was built by King Lalibela in the 12th century as Ethiopia's own Jerusalem.

Pilgrims travel for days to attend colorful Ganna ceremonies in one of the thirteen ancient churches carved from solid volcanic rock.

In the rest of the country and particularly in the capital Addis Adaba the celebration takes place in modern churches that are designed in three concentric circles.

Men and boys have to sit separately from the girls and the women and the choir sings from the outside circle.

As the People enter the churches they receive candles and after lighting them everyone walks around the church three times.

Once people take their places they then stand throughout the mass, which can last as long as three hours