The Lion of Judah Community made an open invitation to celebrate this Sunday 28 of January in San Joaquín the festival called “Melkam Gena” (literally “Merry christmas”, in Amharic) that is celebrated every 7 January in Ethiopia.
“We are pleased to announce the continuity of the beautiful 'Melkam Gena’ that we had been doing together with you a few years ago. One more opportunity to meet again and share around the commemoration of the bright morning Star: Jesus Christ, light of the nations”, the group commented on their social networks.
Activity, which will be held at the San Joaquín Youth House, Painter Murillo 5369, from 17:00 hours, with voluntary contribution for income, is projected as a family party with children's activities, an entrepreneurship fair, live music, natural food, Rastafari culture and a spiritual ceremony.
Melkam Gena
The “Melkam Gena” It is a tradition of the Ethiopian Coptic Church that is celebrated on 7 from January of each year - which in the Julian calendar used by the African country is equivalent to the 29 by Tahsas– Y, unlike what happens in the west, where Christmas has become a festival of consumerism, In Ethiopia it is a deeply religious date.
Many go to church on Christmas Day after participating in an Advent fast called “The Fast of the Prophets”, which begins 25 November and takes place during the 43 days prior to 7 from January.
The Christmas religious ceremony begins at 18:00 hours of the previous day and ends almost nine hours later, around the 3:00 Christmas morning, and the attendees dress in white, although those most attached to tradition wear the “and tax”, which is a white cloth that covers the body with bright stripes at the ends.
This date has been adopted by the Rastafari tradition in the diaspora to celebrate Christmas., making it one of the important dates on the calendar.
A simile in other countries and in Chile
In some Western countries such as Spain, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Paraguay, Uruguay, Peru, Colombia and Venezuela each 6 January, Three Kings Day is celebrated, in commemoration of the arrival of the Three Wise Men to Bethlehem to greet Jesus who had just been born, so it became the date for giving gifts to children.
That same day the so-called “Black Easter” by Afro-descendant communities, which has its origin in the colonial era, when African slaves were freed for a day to celebrate Epiphany. This celebration was declared Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO..
