Festivals

The festival of Timiket or Epiphany to commemorate the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River is celebrated across Ethiopia on January 19th or 20th in leap year. This festival is best known for its ritual reenactment of baptism.

 

The commemoration feast of the finding of the True Holy Cross of Christ, was inscribed in the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2013. Christian’s faithful and tourists converge at the capital of Ethiopia on 27th of September or 28th in a leap year to commemorate the celebration of the Meskel festival.

 

Kulubi is a town in eastern Ethiopia located in East Hararghe Zone of Oromia Region, about 68 kilometers from Dire Dawa. Kulubi is known for its ancient church, dedicated to St. Gabriel, with a massive pilgrimages that take place twice a year (on 26 July and 28 December).

 

Hidat Tsion is the Celebration of Saint Mary in Aksum in Hidar 21 (November 30). The celebration is associated with a fascinating story of the Ark of the Covenant that is believed to be currently held in the Church of Saint Mary of Zion.

 

The Gada System, which is the social, political and cultural reflection of the traditional Oromo people, was registered in the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in October 2016.The Oromo Thanks Giving Festival — Irreechaa takes place during October all over Oromia, Ethiopia.

 

The third UNESCO registered intangible heritage -Fichee-Chambalaalla is a New Year festival celebrated among the Sidama people in Ethiopia around July. It was registered by UNESCO in 2015. Fiche is an anniversary celebrated by the Sidama people as a New Year event.

 

In addition to the festivities of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, Meskel is extensively and colorfully celebrated in different parts of southern Ethiopia. Mostly the true cross celebrated in starting from September 26 eve to 27 each year.

 

The Battle of Adwa represents a major historical landmark for Ethiopia and the African continent. The Adwa Mountains are at large where a major European colonial power, Italy, was defeated by Ethiopia, an African country. The victory of Adwa is celebration as national event on March 1 throughout the country.

 

Every year after the liberation of Ethiopia from the Fascist Italian rule in 1941, February 19 has always been as Ethiopia’s Martyrs’ Day.