Coptic Christians in Egypt and Ethiopia celebrated Christmas on Sunday, January 7.
The birth of Jesus is a big deal for Coptic faithful around the world.
In Egypt where 90 per cent of Christians are coptics, the celebrations were at the new Nativity of Christ Cathedral in Egypt with the country’s President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi and other top state officials in attendance.
The celebrations came a week after a church was targeted in the Helwan District north of Cairo where nine people were killed including policemen guarding the church.
President Sisi is the only president to attend a Christmas mass.
Sisi promised to eradicate extremism in the country
“Terrorism tries to spoil our happiness especially when they hit just before the last Christmas, but it will not stop our festivities. They will annoy us but will not divide us,” he said.
In January 2017, following twin terrorist attacks that killed at least 27 Coptic Egyptians at St. Peter and St. Paul’s Church in Cairo in December 2016, President Sisi commissioned the construction of the country’s largest mosque and church in the new administrative capital to become symbols of coexistence and national unity.
The celebration is known as Genna in Ethiopia and it is usually accompanied by different games, especially by “Yegenna Chewata,” a hockey-like game, which literary means “Christmas Game.”
Foods served at such occasions include “Doro Wot”, which is a spicy chicken stew, and eaten with “Injera”, a sourdough-risen flatbread traditionally made of teff flour.
Church services start on the eve of the main holiday and festivities continue with people enjoying special foods and drinks, as well as visiting and exchanging seasonal greetings with friends, neighbors, and relatives.
Ethiopia has got its own calendar, and Christians in the country celebrate Christmas about 10 days later than other Christians who celebrate Christmas on Dec. 25.
