Genna is Ethiopian Christmas, and coincides with other Orthodox Christmas celebrations around the world. The feast marks the end of the 40-days fasting period of advent. On Christmas Eve, the faithful participate in church services through the night before celebrating with family and friends on Christmas day. The Christmas celebration in the Ethiopian Orthodox Church is called Ganna, and many followers go to Church on Christmas day. Many people fast (deprive themselves from any meal) on Christmas Eve (January 6th), and at dawn on the morning of Ganna, people get dressed in white, with many of them wearing a traditional garment called a shemma. It’s a thin white cotton piece of cloth with brightly-colored stripes across the end, worn a bit like a toga.

Lalibela is the most popular place to celebrate Genna, as thousands of pilgrims flock to the holy city for this celebration.