Christmas Day is a public holiday in Eritrea that is celebrated on January 7 or on 27 Tahsas of the Ethiopian calendar. Christmas is called () in Eritrea or () in Ethiopia. Many Christians in the two countries fast for 40 days, in a fast called the Fast of the Prophets). They then head to church at dawn on Christmas morning. On Christmas Day, there are colorful musical celebrations which involve the priests dressed in their best robes performing rituals, including dancing and playing drums and other instruments. Early in the morning at dawn, everyone dresses in white and heads to the nearby church. Late in the afternoon is the traditional game of gena, a kind of hockey. According to an Ethiopian legend, the game was played by the shepherds who were tending their flocks on the night that Jesus was born. The game is attended by the leader of the community and the winner is awarded a prize. Most Ethiopians don a traditional shamma, a thin, white cotton wrap with brightly colored stripes across the ends. The holiday is followed up by the three-day festival Timkat, starting on January 19 and celebrating the baptism of Jesus Christ. Nigeria Christmas Day is a public holiday in Nigeria which is always marked by the emptying of towns and cities of Nigerians who have been successful returning to their ancestral villages to be with family and to bless those less fortunate. As the towns and cities empty, people jam the West African markets to buy and transport live chickens, goats and cows that will be needed for the Christmas meals. On Christmas Eve, traditional meals are prepared according to the traditions of each region. Nigerians as a whole tend to prepare various meats in large quantities. In the south, a dish called jollof rice is served with stews of various meats along with boiled beans and fried plantains; in the north, rice and stew as well as tuwon shinkafa, a rice pudding served with various meat stews, is preferred. In the north several local desserts are also made which are rarely found in other parts of Nigeria. An alternative in both regions (but more favored in the south) is a pepper soup with fish, goat, or beef which may also be served with fufu (pounded yam). Served with this food are an array of mainly alcoholic drinks such as the traditional palm