Ethiopia Holidays, Events and festives

Enkutatash- New Year
Date: 11 September


This festival celebrates both the New Year and the Feast of John the Baptist at the end of the long rains in Spring, when the Highlands become covered in wild flowers. Children dressed in new clothes dance through the villages, distributing garlands and tiny paintings. In the evening every house lights a bonfire and there is singing and dancing.
Maskal- Finding of the True Cross,

Date: 27 September


On the day of the festival, bright yellow Maskal daisies are tied to fronds, and piled high in town squares. Colourful processions carrying buming torches converge on to the square, where a pyre is lit and the celebrations continue until dawn.


Feast of St Gabriel

Date: 28 December




Genna: Ethiopian Christmas: birth of Christ)

Date: 7 January


This is to celebrate the birth of Christ and King Lalibela. On Christmas Eve Lalibela town is crowded with pilgrims from all parts of the country and abroad. They remain outdoors all night, praying and chanting. In the morning, a colorful procession makes its way to a nearby hilltop where a service is held. Those who worship are fed with bread and wine that has been blessed by priests. After the service is over the rest of the day is spent dancing, playing sport and feasting.

Timkat: Ethiopian Epiphany: (baptism of Christ)

Date: 19January

Timket celebrates the Baptism of Jesus. This festival is best known for its ritual reenactment of baptism. This is anextremely colourful three-day festival commemorating the baptism of Christ.
Ethiopian Good Friday:

Date: May (variable)


Good Friday in Ethiopia is the day that marks when Jesus Christ was crucified on the cross for our salvation.


Fasika: (Ethiopian Easter Sunday)

Date: May (variable)


Fasika (Easter) is celebrated after 55 days severe Lent fasting. Orthodox Tewahedo Christians do not eat meat and diary products for the whole 55 days. The fist meal of the day is taken after 3 PM (9 o'clock in the afternoon Ethiopian time) during the fasting days, except Saturdays and Sundays, hwere a meal is
allowed after the morning service. On Easter eve people go to church and celebrate with candles which are lit during a colorful Easter Mass service which begins at about 6 PM (12 o'clock in the evening Ethiopian time) and ends at about 2 AM (8 o'clock after mid-night Ethiopian time). Everyone goes home to break the fast with the meat of chicken or lamb, slaughtered the previous night after 6 PM, accompanied with injera and traditional drinks (i.e. tella or tej). Like Christmas, Easter is also a day of family re-union, an expression of good wishes with exchange of gifts (i.e. lamb, goat, or loaf of bread).

Buhe :

Date: 21 August


Bands of small boys call at each house, singing and jostling until they are given some fresh dough (buhe), that is being prepared for baking. In the evening, bonfires are lit outside each house.

Lasta Lalibela Great Run, Ethiopia


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Lasta Lalibela Music Festival,
Ethiopia


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