Festivals

The festival of Meskel, one of the major Ethiopian holidays, is celebrated across Ethiopia on September 26th-27th to commemorate the unearthing of the True Holy Cross of Christ by Queen Helena (Saint Helena) in the fourth century. The celebration includes the burning of a large bonfire known as Demera.The best place to experience the Meskel Festival is in the capital Addis Ababa at the famous Meskel Square. Meskel is also colorfully celebrated across the country, especially in the Northern and Southern parts of Ethiopia.

Meskel is an occasion for Ethiopians to promote their spiritual life through reconciliation, social cohesion and peaceful coexistence. UNESCO has registered the Meskel festivity on the list of intangible cultural heritage of humanity in 2013.

As God promised to the people be free from their sins by his son, He
fulfilled his promise at the time. So Jesus born from …”a virgin shall be with child and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel which being interpreted, God with as…” Mathew 1-23. And …..”…For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that so ever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life…” John 1-16. And He saved the world and out from our sins, and praise for God that loves us without saying you are old or young or you are rich or poor.

As the birth of Jesus brings us happiness and joy to all of us. We also will celebrate our Christmas after you celebrated your Christmas 8 or 9 days later. This year the Christmas will be so tremendous in Lalibela than the other days because at the same day it also birthday of king lalibela. So right now, many Ethiopian pilgrims have come in different corner of the country in order to get the blessing and holy water in Lalibela.

The festival of Timkat celebrates the baptism of Christ in the Jordan River by John the Baptist. It is known as one of the greatest festivals in the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. The celebration starts two weeks after the Ethiopian Christmas during Ketera, the eve of Timkat, with large processions of the holy Tabot (a replica of he Ark of the Covenant) from every church to a river or pool of water where the celebration will take place the next day. The ceremony is accompanied by church choirs chanting hymns and special dances by the priests using their prayer sticks, drums, bells and trumpets. The next morning, people gather around the water to be sprinkled on holy water by the church officials. The best places to attend the Timkat festival are Lalibela, Axum, Gondar or Addis Ababa.

A 55 day period of fasting known as Hudade or Abye Tsome concludes with the celebration of the Ethiopian Easter or Fasika. During this period, Orthodox Christians do not eat meat or dairy products and the first meal of the day is taken after 3 p.m. during the fasting days, except Saturdays and Sundays, where a meal is allowed after the morning mass service. On the eve of Fasika, people gather in the church with candles to attend the mass service that starts at 6 p.m. and ends around 2 a.m. After the service, people go home to break the fast with chicken or lamb, accompanied with injera and traditional drinks. Like other Ethiopian religious festivals, Easter is colourfully celebrated in Axum and Lalibela.

many Ethiopian pilgrims have come in different corner of the country in order to get the blessing and holy water in Lalibela.

many Ethiopian pilgrims have come in different corner of the country in order to get the blessing and holy water in Lalibela.

many Ethiopian pilgrims have come in different corner of the country in order to get the blessing and holy water in Lalibela.

many Ethiopian pilgrims have come in different corner of the country in order to get the blessing and holy water in Lalibela.