Ethiopian Christmas
Ethiopian Christmas is 3 more days away - its on the 7th of January. I did mention previously that Ethiopia follows its own calendar as compared to the European one. I was there last year (2005) during Ethioipan Christmas time and one thing that is significant about their christmas is Food (with a big "F"). As with every country that goes into a frenzy during holiday (supposed to be holy day) season, Ethiopia has its own share of feasts and parties and so on - all concentrated on FOOD - wholesome, nutritious, fresh non-vegetarian food. The food they cook is amazing, the smells of which carry people from house to house for miles on end. That is because almost all houses come up with the same kindof preparation and use the same kindof spices. The most awesome thing about Ethiopian food is that it tastes the same, whichever house you go to or any hotel - it tastes the same!
I am not lying when I say that it tastes the same; it not only tastes the same, but smells the same even. That is why the smells get carried all over the place. Combine that with the smell of freshly roasted coffee - wow! This is the way to party a la Ethiopian style!
The cuisine of Ethiopia centres mainly on beef, mutton and chicken. They start preparing for the christmas feast a week before the actual festive day. The celebrations continue into the week following chirstmas day - celebrations consisting mainly of feasts, beer, wine, more feasts, more beer, more wine and so on. Ethiopia has its own breweries and hence the beer and wine run aplenty. Atleast these are not imported.
I don't know what exactly they do on christmas day, apart from feasting, that is. They have prayers way-too-early in the morning. I don't know if people go to church by 3am, but the priests start the morning prayers because there are a lot of saints to pray to, apart from God Himself. The prayers keep going on until midday. People decorate their houses for chirstmas, have a christmas tree and put grass around their house floors. This is a tradition it seems. They put grass on the floor for such festive occasions. They invite neighbours for brunch, lunch, tea and dinner, according to convenience.
P.S.: Most important, I am vegetarian anyway, so all the news about how non-vegetarian food tastes is news that I get from people who have actually eaten them. I believe that the food tastes really good because it smells good.
I am not lying when I say that it tastes the same; it not only tastes the same, but smells the same even. That is why the smells get carried all over the place. Combine that with the smell of freshly roasted coffee - wow! This is the way to party a la Ethiopian style!
The cuisine of Ethiopia centres mainly on beef, mutton and chicken. They start preparing for the christmas feast a week before the actual festive day. The celebrations continue into the week following chirstmas day - celebrations consisting mainly of feasts, beer, wine, more feasts, more beer, more wine and so on. Ethiopia has its own breweries and hence the beer and wine run aplenty. Atleast these are not imported.
I don't know what exactly they do on christmas day, apart from feasting, that is. They have prayers way-too-early in the morning. I don't know if people go to church by 3am, but the priests start the morning prayers because there are a lot of saints to pray to, apart from God Himself. The prayers keep going on until midday. People decorate their houses for chirstmas, have a christmas tree and put grass around their house floors. This is a tradition it seems. They put grass on the floor for such festive occasions. They invite neighbours for brunch, lunch, tea and dinner, according to convenience.
P.S.: Most important, I am vegetarian anyway, so all the news about how non-vegetarian food tastes is news that I get from people who have actually eaten them. I believe that the food tastes really good because it smells good.
posted by Grace at 5:45 PM
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