The Ethiopian World Federation Incorporated

Archive for the ‘Important Dates’ Category

January 7th

Members of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church fast on Christmas Eve before gathering outdoors to pray and chant.

They then move into churches for mass, which can last for over 3 hours. Ethiopians rarely give gifts other than small items such as clothing to children.

After the service is over Ethiopians enjoy dancing, playing sport and feasting on injera wot. Genna field hockey (after which Christmas is named), is sometimes played by males.

January 19th

The three day festival of Timket begins 12 days after Genna, celebrating the baptism of Christ.

Ethiopians wear traditional white garments and priests wear red and white ornate robes and carry embroidered umbrellas.

The sistrum (percussion instrument) tinkles, the prayer stick (makamlya) is used to tap out the walking beat and the church officials chant melekets. Sometimes Ethiopian males play yeterais guks (throwing of ceremonial lances whilst on horseback).

September 27th

Meskal has been celebrated in the country for over 1600 years. The word actually means “cross” and the feast commemorates the discovery of the cross upon which Jesus was crucified, by the Empress Helena, the mother of Constantine the Great. The original event took place on 19 March 326 AD. but the feast is now celebrated on 27 September.

Many of the rites observed throughout the festival are said to be directly connected to the legend of Empress Helena. On the eve of Meskal, tall branches are tied together and yellow daisies, popularly called Meskal.

Flowers, are placed at the top. During the night those branches are gathered together in front of the compound gates and ignited. This symbolizes the actions of the Empress who, when no one would show the Holy Sepulcher, lit incense and prayed for help.