For the first time ever I get to enjoy TWO Christmases in ONE year!
Merry Ethiopian Christmas!
Today, January 7th, is the day that all of Ethiopia stops to celebrate Christmas. It was such a great day spent with the kids at the orphanage. I was able to take in some little gifts, and the kids were SO excited! As soon as I walked in with a bag they just knew I had something special, so all morning they asked Quas alle? (Is there a ball?) Celebrating Genna (Christmas) also means sharing in special meals, copious amounts of buna (coffee), and shai (tea). Shortly after arriving the ladies and I sat down to share a mid-morning meal. Two hours later was lunch with a coffee ceremony. THEN, just before I left they fed me yet again. Yepp, that's 3 meals in less than 6 hours, and yet totally cultural for such special occasions.
Why is Ethiopia just now celebrating Christmas? Because they follow a different calendar than we do in America. The Julian calendar has them in the year 2007 welcoming New Years in our September and celebrating Christmas in our January.
Above pretty much sums up how Ethiopians celebrate any holiday! The pan on the left is full of dorro wat (a meat dish in a spicy tomato sauce served over injera). On the right is a jebina. A traditional part of a get-together includes a coffee ceremony which starts with the washing and roasting of beans, and ends with a 3 round pour of coffee from the jebina.
Melkam Genna (Merry Christmas) from me and my main man E! He is even sporting his new, room to grow, outfit.
