Ethiopian Orthodox Christians Celebrate Christmas Eve in Addis Ababa. Addis Ababa, Ethiopia — January 7, 2026 Lead Paragraph: Thousands of Ethiopian Orthodox Christians gathered in Addis Ababa’s Meskel Square on Tuesday to celebrate Christmas Eve, marking the end of a 43-day fasting period.
The event, which coincides with the Julian calendar, saw participants dressed in white participating in a candlelight ceremony and an all — night church service.
The celebration in the Ethiopian capital is a significant religious and cultural event, with the country following the Julian calendar, which places Christmas on January 7th rather than December 25th as observed by most of the Western world. Estifanos Girma, a deacon of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, described the atmosphere as “absolutely phenomenal” and filled with spiritual joy. Despite facing internal security challenges, including ethnic-based insurgencies in the regions of Amhara and Oromia, Addis Ababa is currently experiencing a period of revitalization.
This is attributed to Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali’s investment of billions of dollars in infrastructure improvements, which include bike lanes, a conference center, parks, and museums. Ethiopia’s celebration of Christmas also serves as a time for reflection and prayer for peace.
The country has experienced conflict in recent years, with the war in the Tigray region ending in 2022.
However, the ongoing tensions in other regions have raised concerns about the country’s stability. Further details regarding the specific traditions and rituals followed during the all-night church service in Addis Ababa are expected to be released in the coming days.
The role of the government in facilitating or acknowledging the Christmas celebrations has not yet been officially commented on.
*Additional reporting by ImNews | Sources consulted: 4*
