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Ethiopian Festivals
Ethiopia has a number of festivals, many of them unique. Timket (the Feast of Epiphand), falling on 19th January, is the greatest festival of the year, followed in importance by Meskal (Finding of the True Cross) on 27th September. Easter is the most solemn of festivals but the Ethiopian New Year (Enkutatash) falls on 11th September in the Western calendar. Christmas is celebrated on 7th January. Among the most unusual of the country’s festivals are kulubi Gabriel, Sheikh Hussein, Gishen Mariam, and SofOmar. Crowds pray for health, for a new baby, for a special favor or a good harvest, or to give thanks for wishes already granted.
Enkutatash New Year
September 11, on the Western calendar, is both Ethiopia’s New Year’s Day and the Feast of St. John the Baptist. The day is called enkutatash meaning the ‘gift of jewels’. When the famous Queen of sheba returned form her expensive jaunt to visit King Solomon in Jerusalem, her chiefs welcomed her back by replenishing her treasury with fuku, or jewels.
The spring festival has been celebrated since these early times and as the rains come to their abrupt end, dancing and singing can be heard at every village in the green countryside.
After dark on New year’s Eve people light fires outside their houses, and rush around with flaming torches, celebrating the passing of the old year and the coming of the new year. Traditionally young girls would pick a special kind of grass, called engicha or enqwutatash in honor of the event, and would go round singing new-year messages of good will, and presenting the grass to whomever they met and would be reciprocated with a modest gift. New Year’s Day in Ethiopia as in many other countries is thus a time of tradition.
Meskal, (Finding of the True Cross)
Meskal, second in importance only to Timket, has been celebrated in the country for over 1,600 years. The feast commemorates the discovery of the Cross, upon which Jesus was crucified, by the Empress Helena, the mother of Constantine the Great. The feast is celebrated on 27 September.
On the eve of Meskal tall branches are tied together and yellow daisies, popularly called mescal flowers, are placed at the top. During the night these branches are gathered together in front of the compound gates and ignited. This symbolizes the actions of Empress Helena who, when no one would show her the Holy Sepulcher, it incense and prayed for help. Where the smoke drifted she dug and found three crosses. To one of them the true Cross, many miracles were attributed.
Meskal Aslo signifies the physical presence of true cross at the remote mountain monastery of Gishen Mariam located in the South Wollo administrative zone. Aragment of the Cross was kept in a box of gold. The priests of Gishen still safeguard this treasure along with Tefut, which is handwritten in Ge’ez on beautiful parchment.
During this time of year flowers bloom on mountains and plains and the meadows are yellow with the brilliant mescal daisy. Dancing feasting, marrymaking, bonfires and in the past even gun salutes mark the occasion.
The Ethiopian Christmas, also called Lidet, is not the primary religious and secular festival that is has become in Western countries. Falling on 7th January, it is celebrated seriously by a church service that goes on throughout the night, with people moving form one church to another. Traditionally, young men played a game that is similar to hockey, called genna, on this day and now Christmas has also come to be known by the name. This celebration is unique to Lalibela and attracts many visitors.
Timket Feast of Epiphany
Timket, Feast of Epiphany, is the greatest festival of the year, falling on 19 January, less than tow weeks after the Ethiopian Christmas. It is a three-day affair, beginning one the eve of Timket with dramatic and colorful processions. The following morning, the great day itself, Christ’s baptism in the Jordan River by John the Baptist is commemorated. The third day is devoted to the Feast of St Michael, the archangel, one of Ethiopia’s most popular saints.
Enormous effort is put into the occasion. Tej and tella (Ethiopian mead and beer) are brewed, special bread is baked, and sheep are fattended for slaughter. Gifts are prepared for the children and new closthes purchased or old clothes mended and laundered. Everyone-men, women and children – appears resplendent for the three day celebration.
On the eve of 18 January, ketera, the priests remove the tabots from each church and bless t0 water of the pool or river where the next day’s celebration will take place. It is the tabot (symbolizing the Ark of the Covenant containing the Ten Commandments) rather than the church building which is consecrated and accorded extreme reverence.
The feast is celebrated thought the country and the best places to observe this occasion are Addis Ababa, Lalibela and Gonder.
The Ark of the Covenant
In Axum the original Ark of the Covenant is said to be housed in well-guarded chapel of the church of St Mary of Zion. A replica or symbol of the Ark of the covenant, known as tabot. Occupies pride of place in the holy of holies of every Ethiopian Orthodox Church. These replicas – which derive their sanctity from their relationship to the true and original Ark still believed by Ethiopians to be kept at Axum are so important that no church is considered consecrated without one. The Ark was previously held in an older Church on an island in lake Tana where it remained for 800 years before being moved to Axum’s original St.Mary of Zion chapel
Sheikh Hussein
Lost in the desert planes of Ethiopia’s bale Province lies the sacred shrine of Sheikh Hussein. Its glistening white domes float in a vast sea of emerald green scrub. This remote shrine and its sacred compound house the tomb of a Saint renowned for this miraculous power. Although little is known of Sheikh Hussein’s history, his shrine has become the site of one of Ethiopia’s most extraordinary pilgrimages.
The faithful flock there twice a year from all over Ethiopia as well as from neighboring countries to visit this complex of mosques, shrines and tombs. The pilgrimage lasts several days. As the final prayers are offered and preparations are made for the long journey home, the pilgrims are spiritually enriched. Their journey has brought spiritual renewal and a welcome break from the harsh realities of their lives.
Negash
Ethiopia has long enjoyed the most intimate relations with Islam. When the early followers of Prophet Mohammed were denied the right to pursue their religion by the Quraysh tribe, the mercantile rulers of Mecca, the Prophet had to seek a safe hideout for his followers in order to maintain the survival of his religion.
The then ruler of Ethiopia, or Nejashi, granted asylum to the first refugees, 11 men and four wives, who entered his territory in 615. the second Hijira (flight) consisted of 101 Muslims. The Quraysh are said to have asked the Ethiopia ruler to hand over the exiles to them, but this was strongly rejected. Among the refugees were the Prophet’s daughter Ruquyya, his future wives Umma Habiba and Umma Salama and his cousin and leader of the religious exiles, Ja’afa Ibn Abu Talib. Many of the Muslims stayed in the country until they died and in the end were buried at the sacred village of Negash, north of Wukro about 60 kms from Mekelle, the capital of Tgray Regional State. The Nejashi of the Habashat, as the king is known in the Arab World, died in 630 and was also buried there. Negash remains Ethiopia’s earliest and most holy Muslim centre where there is a fine mosque, constructed recently. Many flock to negash for pilgrimage once in a year during the 10yj day the month of Moharem. Muslims from different parts of Ethiopia and abroad attend this two day colorful festival.
IDD-UL-FITR
Islamic festivals have a special meaning for Muslims of Ethiopia because of the historical link. Ramadhan is one of the holiest periods in the Islamic calendar. Life changes dramatically during Ramadhan. After breaking their fast at sun-down, people stay awake until early hours, feasting, visiting friends and praying. At dawn they eat the meal that will last them until sunset. At the end of Ramadhan, the festival of Idd-ul-Fitr is celebrated.
IDD-UL-ADHA
The most important holy festival for the Muslims is Idd-ul-Adha, the feast of the sacrifice- this occurs at the end of hajj on the tenth day of Zul Hijja, the twelfth month of the Islamic year. Sheep, goats or camels are sacrificed on this great occasion.
The Joyful crowds throng the mosque for prayers – the world is alive with happiness
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