Guide · Updated October 2026
Ethiopian Christmas (Genna) 2027 in Canada
Ethiopian and Eritrean Orthodox Christians celebrate Christmas on Thursday, January 7, 2027. Here is the date, the fast that comes before it, and the churches, grocery stores and clothing shops near you.
Thursday, January 7, 2027
Tahsas 29 in the Ethiopian calendar. Christmas Eve is Wednesday, January 6.
Genna (ገና) · Lidet (ልደት)
Genna is the Amharic name. In Tigrinya it is Lidet, meaning birth.
Ethiopian and Eritrean Orthodox
The Ethiopian and the Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo churches both celebrate on January 7.
The fast before it
Tsome Nebiyat (ጾመ ነቢያት), the Fast of the Prophets, starts in late November and ends on Christmas Eve.
Why January 7
The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church follows the Ethiopian calendar, in which Christmas falls on Tahsas 29. In 2027 that is January 7 in the calendar used in Canada.
The fast
Tsome Nebiyat begins on Hidar 15, in late November, and ends on Christmas Eve. While it lasts, observant Orthodox Christians eat no meat, eggs or dairy.
How Genna is celebrated
Many churches hold a long service through the night of January 6 that ends early on Christmas morning. Times differ from parish to parish.
Worshippers traditionally dress in white, and many women wear the netela, a white cotton shawl.
After the service the fast is broken, often with doro wat, a spiced chicken stew, and injera.
Churches and shops near you
Ethiopian and Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo churches listed on HabeshaBiz, by city. Service times for Genna vary by parish, so confirm with your church.
Toronto, Ontario
- Debre Selam St. Michael Tigrayan Orthodox Tewahedo Church · 125 Broadview Ave
- Eritrean Orthodox Tewahdo Church Debre Mhret Medhanie-Alem (Toronto) · 1 Ramsden Rd
- Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church - St. Mary Cathedral Toronto · 80 Tycos Dr
- Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church In Canada Medhane Alem · 23 Denison Rd E
- Eyesus Kristos Wekidus Urael Eritrean Orthodox Tewahdo Church · 325 Weston Rd unit 6c
- Felege Hiwot St. Gabriel Monastery Ethiopian Orthodox Church · 10 Howarth Ave
- Merso Ahmar St. Michael Eritrean Orthodox Tewahdo Church · 702 Jane St
Calgary, Alberta
- Calgary Debre Metmak Tsadkane St. Mary Ethiopian Orthodox Church · 2013 39 Ave NE
- Calgary Hamere Nohe St. Kidanemihret Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church · 2020 27 Ave NE
- Calgary Medhane Alem & St. Michael Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahdo Church · 1432 19 St NE
- Calgary Medhane Alem Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahdo Church · 2236 35 St SE
- Eritrean Orthodox Tewahdo St Michael Church Calgary · 235 8 St NE
- St Gabriel Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahdo Church Calgary · 263 25 Avenue NE
Halifax, Nova Scotia
- Halifax St Mary Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church · 797 Prospect Rd
- St. Gebriel Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahido Church · 1608 Hammonds Plains Rd
New Westminster, British Columbia
Ajax, Ontario
- Ethiopian Orthodox Church · 196 Wright Crescent
Breslau, Ontario
- Debre Sina Kidanemihret Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church · 1248 Kramp Rd
Burnaby, British Columbia
- St.Gabriel Eritrean Orthodox Tewahdo Church in Vancouver · 3895 Albert St
East York, Ontario
- Felege Hiwot Saint Gebriel Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahido Church · 2723 St Clair Ave E
Edmonton, Alberta
- Debre Selam Medhanealem Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church · 11403 124 St
Gatineau, Quebec
- Debre Zihon St. Mary Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahdo Church · 144 Rue Jean-René-Monette
Guelph, Ontario
- Qdst Slase Eritrean Orthodox Tewahdo Church (Guelph) · 249 Edinburgh Rd N
Kitchener, Ontario
- St Mary Eritrean Orthodox Tewahdo Church · 214 Highland Rd E
Montreal, Quebec
- Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Medhanealem Church of Montreal · 6980 Av. Papineau
Richmond, British Columbia
- Gishen Debre Kerbe St. Mary Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church · 13780 Westminster Hwy
Scarborough, Ontario
- Eritrean Orthodox Tewahdo Qudus Mikael Church · 37 Marchington Cir
Victoria, British Columbia
- Greater Victoria Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahido St. Gabriel Church · 1100 Colville Rd
Don't see your city? All Ethiopian and Eritrean churches in Canada
Timket follows on Tuesday, January 19, 2027 →
Questions
When is Ethiopian Christmas in 2027?+
Thursday, January 7, 2027. Christmas Eve, with its overnight church service, is Wednesday, January 6.
Why is Ethiopian Christmas on January 7?+
The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church uses the Ethiopian calendar, in which Christmas is Tahsas 29. That corresponds to January 7 in the Gregorian calendar.
Do Eritreans celebrate Christmas on January 7?+
Yes. The Eritrean Orthodox Tewahdo Church also celebrates Christmas, called Lidet (ልደት) in Tigrinya, on January 7.
What is the fast before Ethiopian Christmas?+
Tsome Nebiyat (ጾመ ነቢያት), the Fast of the Prophets. It starts in late November and ends on Christmas Eve; observant Orthodox Christians eat no meat, eggs or dairy during it.
What do people eat for Genna?+
The fast is commonly broken with doro wat, a spiced chicken stew served with injera.
Sources
Updated October 2026. Spotted something wrong or missing? Tell us.