FESTIVALS
The most notable and colorfully celebrated festivals in Ethiopia are Christian religious festivals mainly practiced by the Ethiopian Orthodox church:
1. Enkutatash (New Year):
Enkutatash (Ethiopian New Year) falls on Meskerem 1st on Ethiopian calendar New Year falls on September 11 (September 12 in the leap year) in the Gregorian calendar, but it is Meskerem 1st in the Ethiopian calendar at the end of the Ethiopian rain season and is called Enkutatash. Enkutatash will be colorful by a young girls singing and dance and for exchanging New Year greetings among around their village, also a young boys they will bring different kings of paints to people whom they know them very closely.
2. Meskel (The finding of the true cross):
The Meskel festival is one of the most important events in the spiritual part of Ethiopian culture. Meskel means cross in Geez (the classic language of Ethiopia now used predominantly in the Ethiopian Orthodox church). Ethiopia claims more than a thousand types of cross designs in its treasured heritage-an uncontested world record. Meskel is celebrated by dancing, feasting and lighting a massive bonfire known in Ethiopian tradition as Demmera. Meskel festival commemorates the finding of the very cross on which Jesus Christ of Nazareth was crucified in Golgotha in the fourth century by Empress Helena, the mother of Constantine. The feast is celebrated in Ethiopia on September 17th on the Ethiopian calendar (September 27th on the Gregorian calendar), six months after the discovery of the true cross.
The celebration of Meskel recognizes the presence of the true cross at the Mountain of Gishen Miriam monastery, and also recognizes Empress Helena’s road to finding it. According to tradition, Empress Helena lit incense and prayed for assistance from God in her search for the cross. The smoke from the incense drifted in the direction of the buried cross. She dug and found three crosses: one of them was the true cross on which Jesus Christ died. Empress Helena gave a piece of the cross to each of the churches, including the Ethiopian church. The piece given to the Ethiopian church was then brought to Ethiopia.
According to Ethiopian legend, when people got close to a piece of the true cross, it made them naked by its strong light. Because of this, a decision was made to bury it at the Mountain of Gishen Miriam monastery in Wollo region. The monastery of Gishen Miriam holds a volume of a book which records the story of the true cross of Christ and how it was discovered.
3. Hidar Tsion:
Hider Tsion is one of the Ethiopian Orthodox church fest which will held at Axum at the church of St.Mary of Tsion, this church is believed that the original Ark of the Covenant has kept for ages, during this cerebration the copy of the Ark of the covenant will bring out and they will be a dancing and enchantment of Sunday school, deacons and the believers.
4. Timket (Ethiopian Epiphany):
Timket (Epiphany) is one of the greatest festivals on Ethiopia’s Orthodox Tewahido church calendar. It commemorates Christ’s baptism by Saint John in the Jordan River. Timket is celebrated in Ethiopia on January 11th on the Ethiopian calendar (January 19 on the Gregorian calendar). On this day, in the morning, people go to nearby churches for prayers, and in the afternoon, replicas of the Arc of the covenant are taken out of every church, accompanied by the priests, deacon, singers of the church, as well as ordinary people to the place where the baptism ceremony is held. The covenants will be there for one night and then on the next day in the morning, all of the covenants go back to the churches to which they belong. In Timket, Tella and Tej are brewed and special bread, called Himash in Tigrinya and Ambasha in Amharic is baked. Sheep are slaughtered to mark the three days celebration.
5. Ledet (Ethiopian Christmas):
Ledet falls on December 29th on the Ethiopian calendar (January 7th on the Gregorian calendar). It is celebrated after 43 days of fasting, known as Tsome Gehad (advent), with a spectacular procession, which begins at 6 am and lasts until 9 am. After the mass (service), people go home to break the fast with the meat of chicken or lamb or beef accompanied by Injera and the traditional drinks Tella and Tej.
6. Fasika (Ethiopian Easter):
Easter is the celebration of the Christ’s resurrection. The resurrection took place on Sunday, which was from then on the “Lord’s Day”. Fasika (Easter) is celebrated after 55 days severe’ lent (fasting) (Hudade or Aby Tsome). Orthodox Tewahido Christians do not eat meat and diary products for the whole 55 days to commemorate the 40 days of fasting of Jesus experienced before crucifixion. Only vegetarian meals such as lentils, ground split peas, grains, fruits and varieties of vegetable stew accompanied by Injera and /or bread are eaten on these days. The first meal of the day is taken after 3 pm (9 o’clock in the after noon Ethiopian time) during the fasting days, except Saturday and Sunday, where a meal is allowed after the morning service.
- Holy Week:
Holy week is the week proceeding Easter Sunday. Palm Sunday: This is the Sunday before Easter. It commemorates Christ’s entry into Jerusalem. On this date, early in the morning, the deacons walk around in every village of the town to deliver palm leaves to followers of the Orthodox Church to wear on their foreheads the whole day.
- Thursday before Easter:
This day commemorates Christ’s last supper, and his washing of the disciples’ feel on that day. On this date, the head of the priests washes the people in the church. Good Friday: This is the Friday before Easter; the anniversary of the Christ’s crucifixion. On this day all Christians go to the nearby churches for a full day prayer.
- Holy Saturday (Easter Eve):
People go to church with candles to celebrate. These candles are lit during a colorful Easter mass (service) which begins at about 6 pm (12 O’ clock in the evening Ethiopia time) and ends at about 2 am (8 O’clock after midnight Ethiopia time). Every one goes home to break the fast with a meat of chicken or lamb, slaughtered the previous night after 6 pm, accompanied with Injera and traditional drinks, namely Tella or Tej.
- Easter Sunday: On Easter Sunday there are re-unions of families and expressions of good wishes with exchange of gifts.
7. Debra Damo (Feast of Saint Aregawi):
This is fest is celebrated in the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Christians church for the one of the nine saint called (Abune) Aregawi, on October 14 Ethiopian calendar (October 24 Gregorian calendar), this fest is celebrated 25KM from Adigrat at the monasteries of Debre Damo, the will be thousands of pilgrims to be held on this colorful celebration. |
