Davis Blair Mugume

Photographer

blairdavismugume.visura.co/

GENA - THE ETHIOPIAN ORTHODOX CHRISTMAS DAY

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Location: KAMPALA

Nationality: UGANDAN

Biography: Ugandan photographer with a bias in environment, public health and Daily life.

Female Orthodox Christians outs... 7th. Taken on January 7, 2021.

Female Orthodox Christians outside their church in Bunga, Kampala at 6:20am to attend their annual Gena celebrations (Christmas) which are commemorated every 7th January unlike most of the rest of the world because Ethiopians especially the Orthodox Christians follow the Julian Calendar instead of the Gregorian one. Genna celebrations usually begin on Christmas eve, 6pm and carry on through the night till the morning of January 7th.

Taken on January 7, 2021.

Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Chr...g of Gena, 6am, January 7 2021.

Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Christians on the morning of Gena, 6am, January 7 2021.

A charcoal stove burns in the b...hurch service. January 7, 2021.

A charcoal stove burns in the backyard of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahido church in Bunga, a Kampala Suburb in preparation for use during the burning of incense later on in the Church service. January 7, 2021.

A lady veiled up in a Netela ar...veryone sanitizes before entry.

A lady veiled up in a Netela arrives for prayers on the morning of Gena, January 7, 2021, as a member of the congregation makes sure everyone sanitizes before entry.

An elderly Christians leans on ...n carried across the shoulders.

An elderly Christians leans on a traditional prayer stick during the Gena service on the morning of Gena at the Ethiopian Orthodox Church in Bunga, Kampala. Orthodox Christians often take on a 43-day fast from the 25th of November to the morning of January 7th of the next year when they break the fast. The prayer sticks therefore serve a role for the elderly that might be weary from the fasting period but also carry other meanings like symbolizing Jesus's Cross when carried across the shoulders.

A young boy peruses through a p...mpala Suburb on January 7, 2021

A young boy peruses through a prayer book during the Gena day celebrations in Bunga, a Kampala Suburb on January 7, 2021

Ethiopian Orthodox Christians b... Kampala on the January 7, 2021

Ethiopian Orthodox Christians bow down in prayer just like Muslims. at their Gena Day celebrations in Bunga Kampala on the January 7, 2021

The crucifix at the top of the ...urch. Kampala. January 7, 2021.

The crucifix at the top of the Orthodox church. Kampala. January 7, 2021.

A young girl plays with a frien...ound during the church service.

A young girl plays with a friend's Netela during the Prayers on Gena morning at the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahido Church in Bunga, Kampala on January 7, 2021.
Like moslems, Men and women are required to use separate spaces within the same church building or compound during the church service.

A young girl plays with a friend's Netela during the Prayers on Gena morning at the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahido Church in Bunga, Kampala on January 7, 2021.
Like Muslims, Men and women are required to use separate spaces within the same church building or compound during the church service.

A young altar boy putting out t...the morning of January 7, 2021.

A young altar boy putting out the candles at the altar after the end of the official Gena Church service at the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahido church in Bunga, Kampala on the morning of January 7, 2021.

EHtiopian women stop to buy cer...Gena day celebrations in Bunga.

EHtiopian women stop to buy ceremonial grass leaves used as decorations on the Gena day celebrations in Bunga.

A group of worshipers pose with...church service is done in Bunga

A group of worshipers pose with Priest Mike after the Gena day church service is done in Bunga

Private Story

GENA - THE ETHIOPIAN ORTHODOX CHRISTMAS DAY

Updated Aug 2022

Topics Christianity, Community, Culture, Faith, Refugees, Religion, Religious minorities

Summary

Ethiopia happen to follow the Julian calendar that has 13 months rather than the Gregorian calendar that is used in majority of the world’s countries. They celebrate their Christmas day every January 7.

This story idea looks to document, particularly, the Ethiopian Orthodox Christians living in Uganda and how they have integrated their lives and timelines into that of Uganda and how they have persevered to stick to their culture and traditions from a home that happens to be so far away.

This particular story is only an excerpt from a still on-going and unfinished documentary story about the Ethiopian Orthodox Christians living in Uganda. This Excerpted series focuses on how The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahido Christians celebrate Christmas service at their church