Ethiopia is old beyond imagination. More than three million years ago, one of our first ancestors, Lucy (Dinkenesh to Ethiopians) which means “Thou art wonderful,” walked the portion of the earth that is now known as Ethiopia. The remains of this ‘first human’ – an almost complete hominid skeleton – was discovered in 1974 at Hadar on the Awash river in Ethiopia’s barren and forbidding Danakil region.
One of the most striking geographical features of the country, the Great Rift Valley, is home to a chain of beautiful lakes, around which many of Ethiopia’s national parks are centered. The widely varying habitats, which include mountains, lakes deserts, savannahs and everything in between, host and astonishing array of wildlife and bird life, many of which are endemic and unique to Ethiopia.
Religion plays an important part in Ethiopian life. The Orthodox Church ceremonies are unique and impressive. People dress in traditional costume and celebrate colorful festivals like 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.
For more on sights and attractions throughout Ethiopia, check out Discover Ethiopia: Top 10 Attractions and Sights.
Festivals Throughout in Ethiopia
Enkutatash (Ethiopian New Year): falls on September 11 in the Gregorian calendar, at the end of the Ethiopian rain season. It also marks the commemoration of Saint John the Baptist. Enkutatash is not only a religious holiday but it is also a day for young boys and girls to sing and dance and for exchanging New Year greetings among urban and rural inhabitants.
Meskel (Finding of the True Cross) is celebrated by dancing, feasting and the lighting of a massive bonfire, known in Ethiopian tradition as “Damera.” Meskel commemorates the finding of the True Cross in the fourth century when Empress Helena, mother of Constantine the Great, discovered the True Cross on which Christ was crucified. The feast is celebrated in Ethiopia on September 27 of the Gregorian calendar, 6 months after the discovery of the True Cross. The celebration signifies the presence of the True Cross at mountain of Gishen Mariam monastery (Northern Part of Ethiopia, along the Lalibela road) and also symbolizes the events carried out by Empress Helena.
According to tradition, Empress Helena lit incense and prayed for assistance to guide her. The smoke drifted towards the direction of the buried cross. She dug and found three crosses; one of them was the True Cross used to crucify Jesus Christ. Empress Helena then gave a piece of the True Cross to all churches, including the Ethiopian Church. This piece was then brought to Ethiopia. According to the Ethiopian legend, when people got close to the piece of the True Cross, they became naked by its powerful light. Because of this, a decision was made to bury the relic at the mountain of Gishen Mariam monastery in Wollo region. The monastery of Gishen Mariam holds a book that records the story of the True Cross of Christ and how it was acquired.
Ledet (Christmas) falls on January 7 of the Gregorian calendar and is celebrated after 43 days of the fasting period known as Tsome Gahad (Advent). There is a spectacular procession that 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 with Injera and the traditional drinks (i.e. Tella, a Local beer or Tej, a honey made wine).
Timket (Epiphany) is one of the greatest festivals in the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church calendar. It commemorates Christ’s Baptism by Saint John in the Jordan River. Timket is celebrated in Ethiopia on January 19 of the Gregorian calendar, two weeks after Ledet (Ethiopian Christmas). On the Eve of Timket, colorful processions and ceremonies begin and end on January 20th. During Timket, Tella and Tej are brewed, special bread called “Himbash” (in Tigrigna) or “Difo” (in Amharic) is prepared and baked, and sheep are slaughtered to mark the three-day celebration.
Fasika (Easter) is celebrated after a 55-day period of Lent and fasting (Hudade or Abye Tsome). Orthodox Tewahedo Christians do not eat meat and diary products for the whole 55 days. Vegetarian meals such as lentils, ground split peas, grains, fruit and varieties of vegetable stew accompanied by Injera and/or bread are only eaten on these days. The fist meal of the day is taken after 3 PM during the fasting days, except Saturdays and Sundays, where a meal is allowed after the morning service.
On the eve of Easter, people go to church and celebrate with candles which are lit during a colorful Easter mass service beginning at 6 PM and ending at 2 AM. 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).
For more information or to visit Ethiopia, go to: www.tourtoethiopia.com .