Events / Festival in Ethiopia
Religion plays an important part of life in Ethiopia. The Orthodox Tewahedo Church ceremonies are unique and impressive; especially Timket and Meskel festivals which provide colourful ceremonies and celebrations. People dress in traditional costume and celebrate festivals across the country with colourful unique ceremonies such as Enkutatash (New Year), Meskel (Finding of the True Cross), Ledet (Christmas), Timket (Epiphany) and Fasika (Easter). Islamic tradition also celebrates religious festivals in the Ethiopian calendar, notably, Muharram, Milad-an-Nabi and Eid-ul-Fitr.
Many Orthodox churches annually celebrate Christmas Day on or around January 7.
This event commemorates the story of Jesus Christ’s birth, according to the Christian Bible.
Timkat is the Ethiopian Orthodox celebration of Epiphany.
This festival is best known for its ritual reenactment of baptism (similar to such reenactments performed by numerous Christian pilgrims to the Holy Land when they visit the Jordan).
Meskel is an annual religious holiday in the Ethiopian Orthodox and Eritrean Orthodox churches,
which commemorates the discovery of the True Cross by the Roman Empress Helena (Saint Helena) in the fourth century.