“Beza Kulu” The Colorful Ethiopian Orthodox Christmas Celebration at Lalibela

The celebration

Ethiopians celebrated Christmas across the country with cultural and religious festivity. As is always the case, the holiday is more colourful in Lalibela — a town with the twelfth century rock hewn churches — and that is dubbed as the Jerusalem of Ethiopia. It attracts millions of pilgrims every year.

Christmas is also celebrated outside of Ethiopia among the followers of Orthodox Christians around the world. Ethiopia is believed to have over 50 million Orthodox Christians. However, the followers of protestant denominations and Catholic Church in Ethiopia celebrate it on the same day along with Orthodox Christians.

Apart from the religious aspect of which it — which is all about celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ in Betelhem — the holiday has a profound cultural significance for Ethiopians. There is a field-hockey like play that is played during the day. It is called Yegena Chewata in Amharic, a language with its own ancient script and spoken across Ethiopia. The holiday itself is called Gena in Amharic.

Images of the celebration

LALIBELA, ETHIOPIA - JANUARY 07: Deacons and Priest perform the Beza Kulu ceremony around Bete Mariam (Saint Mary's Church) during Orthodox Christmas/Gena celebrations on January 07, 2019 in Lalibela, Ethiopia. Ethiopians follow the Julian calendar and therefore the Orthodox Christians celebrate Christmas on January 7th. (Photo by J. Countess/Getty Images)

LALIBELA, ETHIOPIA - JANUARY 07: Thousands of pilgrims and the devout attend the Orthodox Christmas or Gena ceremony at Bete Mariam (Saint Mary's Church) during Orthodox Christmas/Gena celebrations on January 07, 2019 in Lalibela, Ethiopia. Ethiopians follow the Julian calendar and therefore the Orthodox Christians celebrate Christmas on January 7th. (Photo by J. Countess/Getty Images)