Festivals in Ethiopia
Enkutatash – Ethiopian New Year (September 11)
Enkutatash marks the Ethiopian New Year and the end of the rainy season.
Children dressed in new clothes sing songs and present flowers to neighbors, while families gather to celebrate with food, music, and dancing.
Ethiopian Christmas – Genna (January 7)
Christmas in Ethiopia, known as Genna, is celebrated according to the Julian calendar.
People attend early morning church services followed by family feasts featuring traditional dishes such as doro wat and injera.
Fasika – Ethiopian Easter
Fasika is celebrated after a 55-day fasting period observed by Ethiopian Orthodox Christians.
Following midnight church services, families gather to break the fast with traditional meals.
Meskel – Finding of the True Cross (September 26–27)
Meskel commemorates the discovery of the True Cross by Queen Helena.
The festival is marked by the lighting of large bonfires called Demera, accompanied by singing, dancing, and religious ceremonies.
Timkat – Ethiopian Epiphany (January 19)
Timkat celebrates the baptism of Jesus Christ.
During the festival, sacred replicas of the Ark of the Covenant are carried in colorful processions to nearby water sources where ceremonial blessings take place.
Timkat is widely considered the most colorful religious festival in Ethiopia.