The celebration of Easter is one of the most celebrated religious and spiritual festivals in the world. It commemorates the victory of good over evil and marks the triumphant return of Jesus Christ. There’s a lot to learn about this holiday if you’re planning to celebrate it in Ethiopia. Here’s everything you need to know about Ethiopian Easter 2023 celebrations, outfits to wear during the holiday, and delicious food options.
Ethiopian Easter celebrations
Ethiopia’s Easter celebrations are vibrant and colorful celebrations enjoyed by the Christian community. The three-week-long holiday is known as Fasika or Tinsae. It starts with the day of resurrection (Easter Monday), followed by two weeks of fasting, and ends with Easter Sunday.
The day of resurrection is marked by church services, where worshippers wear traditional white clothing and break their fast with a spicy chicken stew called “doro wut”. On Easter eve, children and adults alike witness the sunrise together and celebrate the holiday with bonfires, music, and dancing. Some families decorate their homes with colorful Easter decorations. Donations of $20 can provide a child with treatment and school supplies for the holiday.
What to wear during Ethiopian Easter celebrations
During Ethiopian Easter, or Fasika, celebrating Orthodox Christians dress in traditional white clothing. The holiday is commemorating the baptism of Jesus by Saint Matthew, and it comes after Holy Week. This year, some are looking forward to a festive day filled with good food and fellowship.
Many are excitedly gearing up for the holiday by preparing special outfits, decorating their homes with colorful ribbons, and getting excited about special foods that they may not get to enjoy during other seasons.
During the fasting season of Fasika, meat and dairy products are abstained from, so the feast of the holiday is filled with exciting new tastes and flavors. In typical Ethiopian tradition, meals are served and shared on one plate to bring people together.
On Saturday night, many celebrating Ethiopian Easter gather at church for a special service lasting until dawn on Sunday morning. Some young people have been known to practice a day-long fast on Saturday before eating a huge meal on Easter Sunday.
What to eat during Ethiopian Easter celebrations
During Ethiopian Easter, known as Fasika, a traditional feast is enjoyed. It features several dishes like Doro Wot (a popular corn dish), Tekle Ber (Ethiopian stew), and Kitcha Wots (a vegetarian stir-fry). For meat-based dishes, followers typically abstain from meat and dairy products during the fasting season. This includes chicken, beef, pork, lamb, and other forms of meat. When it comes to Easter meals, the meal is typically served on one plate to develop a sense of sharing and love between family and friends. The holiday is meant to make up for the abstention from these items.
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Where to celebrate Ethiopian Easter in the US?
Ethiopian Easter is celebrated with a lot of zeal and enthusiasm in the US. Some churches in the States organize special events to attract people to celebrate the festival. Besides, many non-religious organizations hold public programs at schools, parks, and other public places. This year, the holiday of Fast breaking, Eid al-Fitr, marks the end of Ramadan and entails a day-long celebration for Muslims.
Ethiopians love their food and celebrations during Easter are no different. Many churches across the country organize ‘Eggslapping’ competitions where participants race with eggs on their heads. Besides, there are a lot of colorful events like Bon Bon Easter Eggstravaganza and Ethiopian National Beading day where bead artists from Ethiopia showcase their talent and creativity.
The holiday is celebrated in a vibrant, colorful, and beautiful way all over Ethiopia.
When is Easter Week in Ethiopia in 2023?
Easter in Ethiopia will take place from Sunday, April 9th to Sunday, September 11th, 2023. That year, Easter Sunday will be on April 9th. During Easter Week, Enkutatash (New Year) will take place on September 11th, 2023. During the celebration, many other notable holidays will be celebrated as well. The most prominent of these is Christmas Day on December 25th. Additionally, a calendar with those holidays for the year 2023 is available for download.
Celebrating Easter in Ethiopia
Easter is the most celebrated religious holiday in Ethiopia, observed with pomp and splendor by both traditional and non-traditional churches. The holiday is celebrated on the second Sunday after the first full moon of May. Orthodox Christians fast for days before Easter and break their fast with a spicy chicken stew called “doro wut”. The festival is marked by public celebrations, such as parades, public gatherings, and parties. The Festival of Fast Breaking, also known as Eid al-Fitr or the Festival of Breaking the Fast, is celebrated on the day following Eid al-Adha (the feast of sacrifice).
It is a public holiday celebrated by many in Ethiopia, especially among Muslims. New Year’s Day is commonly known as Enqutatash in Ethiopia. It is determined by the Julian or Coptic calendar, depending on which you follow. Unlike other countries’ Christmas holidays, Ethiopian new year celebrations don’t include much fanfare or consumption of alcohol. In the country’s secularized society, Christmas has become more of a religious holiday for Christians than a cultural one.
Popular Traditions of Ethiopian Easter
The holiday of Ethiopian Easter is celebrated by many with traditional cultural celebrations and prayers. The holiday of Ethiopian Easter is marked by the Orthodox Christian tradition of fasting. This period of abstinence is referred to as ‘The Great Lent’ and lasts for around 55 days. It begins on Ash Wednesday when participants abstain from eating meat or consuming any foods that have been produced using animal products.
After this abstinence period, Churchgoers participate in a festive day focused on good cheer and refrain from indulging in food, drink, and other pleasures. On Easter eve, Orthodox Christians attend lengthy church services wearing traditional white clothing.
After the service, they break the fast with a spicy chicken stew called ‘dorowut’. Hence, the holiday of Ethiopian Easter is a great opportunity to experience the rich culture of Ethiopia.
Where to Get the Best Deals for Ethiopian Easter 2023
The holiday of Ethiopian Easter is celebrated on a different date every year and is announced by the Orthodox Church at the beginning of each year. The holiday is usually celebrated over weeks and is highlighted by several notable holidays. Eid al-Fitr marks the end of Ramadan and is celebrated on April 22, 2023. Enkutatash is celebrated on September 11, 2023. This holiday celebrates the harvest season, while Saint Patrick’s Day, April Fool’s Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, and Cinco de Mayo are other holidays that are celebrated around the time of Ethiopian Easter. Many other countries also celebrate these holidays in their unique manner.
Conclusion:
There are several unique traditions that are associated with the celebration of Ethiopian Easter. You can celebrate this holiday by feasting on special foods like injera and coffee, singing traditional songs, visiting family members, and praying for good health and prosperity. If you’re planning to visit Ethiopia for Easter in 2023, make sure you book your flights with Ethiopian Airlines. They’re offering a host of deals for this year’s holiday.
