How to Say Merry Christmas in Ethiopia: Meaning of Melkam Gena
Learn how Ethiopians say Merry Christmas—Melkam Gena—and discover key facts about the Ethiopian Christmas celebration on January 7th.
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In Ethiopia, 'Merry Christmas' is commonly expressed as 'Melkam Gena!' This greeting is used during the Ethiopian Christmas celebration, which is known as Gena in Amharic, the official language of Ethiopia. The festival typically takes place on January 7th, following the Julian calendar used by the Ethiopian Orthodox Church.
FAQs & Answers
- What does Melkam Gena mean? Melkam Gena means 'Merry Christmas' in Amharic, the official language of Ethiopia, and is used as a Christmas greeting during the Ethiopian holiday of Gena.
- When is Christmas celebrated in Ethiopia? Christmas, known as Gena in Ethiopia, is celebrated on January 7th, following the Julian calendar observed by the Ethiopian Orthodox Church.
- Why do Ethiopians celebrate Christmas on January 7th? Ethiopians celebrate Christmas on January 7th because the Ethiopian Orthodox Church follows the Julian calendar, which is 13 days behind the Gregorian calendar used in many other countries.