Lidet or Genna is the Ethiopian name for Christmas and is marked by special ceremonies.

ADDIS ABABA-- Ethiopian Christians across the East African country are celebrating Christmas on Sunday. More than half of Ethiopia's population is Orthodox Christian. The celebration occurs on January 7th preceded by fast for 40 days. While the Gregorian calendar celebrates Christmas on the 25th of December, Ethiopia still follows the ancient Julian calendar in which Christmas falls on January 7th.

Following the church services started on the eve of the main holiday, festivities continue with people enjoying special foods and drinks, as well as visiting and exchanging seasonal greetings with friends, neighbors, and relatives. The Ethiopian name given to Christmas is Ledet or Genna which comes from the word Gennana, meaning “imminent” to express the coming of the Lord and the freeing of mankind from sin. The main ceremonial activities of the holiday center around local Ethiopian Orthodox churches. Protestants and Catholics also celebrate.

Ethiopia has got its own calendar, and Christians in the country celebrate Christmas slightly a week after the Dec. 25 Christmas thats celebrated by most christians world wide . Genna festivities begin early in the day, as early as 6:00am. when folks gather in churches for mass. The clergy begin their Genna preperations 43 days earlier with the fasting period leading up to Genna. The pensive fasting period is required of the clergy and is known as the fast of the prophets.