Christmas

“Christmas is the season when you buy this year's gifts with next year's money” J

As all of us know Christmas is one of the most known annual feasts around the world. The Christmas season is celebrated in different ways around the world, varying by country and region. However, there are Common Elements to many areas of the world include the lighting of Christmas trees the hanging of wreaths, Christmas stockings, candy canes and the creation of Nativity scenes depicting the birth of Jesus Christ. 

Last year, I went down very early but my mother always tells me to wait for the rest of the family. When they come down I open my presents and every year I like what every one gets me. At night we have a roast dinner usually chicken,  unfortunately this year I’m not going to celebrate with my family, But I’m happy because I’m going to celebrate  here with my Costa Rican host family and friends.

Even though I’m not there let me share you something about Ethiopians Christmas. Really, it may be amazement for you that while the Gregorian calendar celebrates Christmas on the 25th of December, in Ethiopian calendar it falls on January 7th (Tahsas 29, in Ethiopian language).

The Ethiopian Christmas known as Ganna. On Ganna Eve, January 6, the city is crowded with pilgrims and tourists from all parts of the world.  The Ganna celebration is marked by various activities such as horse racing   and authentic folk dancing. In the rural areas a popular game which looks like European Hockey but is typically Ethiopian is conducted between two youth teams. The game is named after the festival and is called "Yegena Chewata".

The preparation of special food for the feast is an important part of those activities.  Food served at Christmas usually includes injera, a sourdough pancake like bread. Injera serves as both plate and fork. Doro wat, a spicy chicken stew might be the main meal. A piece of the injera is used to scoop up the wat. Baskets decorated beautifully are used to serve the wat. This Ganna  meal, which is served January 7, is preceded by major preparations that include the purchase and slaughter of an animal (typically a goat or cow).

So Christmas is a pretty great holiday, wouldn't you agree? There is so much to love about Christmas that it’s hard to pick out just three, but after thinking (and thinking some more) I decided. Here are my top three: receiving and giving presents (mostly receiving! I’m joking.), the marvelous light, and (of course) the tree. For all these qualities, I believe that Christmas is the best holiday!