» Enkutatash (New Year)
Ethiopia still retains the Julian calendar, in which the year is divided into 12 months of 30 days each and a 13th month of 5 days and 6 days in leap year. The Ethiopian calendar is 8 years behind the Gregorian calendar from January to September and 7 years behind between September 11 and January 8.
Enkutatash means the "gift of jewels". When the famous Queen of Sheba returned from her expensive jaunt to visit King Solomon in Jerusalem, her chiefs welcomed her bolts by replenishing her treasury with inku 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 countryside.


» Timket (Epiphany)
Timket, feast of Epiphany is the greatest festival of the year falling on the 19th of January, two weeks after the Ethiopian Christmas. It is a three-day affair beginning on the eve of Timket,it is marked by the procession of the tabots(the replicas of the Ark of Covenant ) around all orthodox churches. The following morning the great day itself, Christ's baptism in the Jordan River by John the Baptist is commemorated and to commemorate people bathe in the lakes and splash water over the onlooker.

After the ceremony, the tabots are taken back to the churches in procession, accompanied by singing, drumming, the ringing of bells and blowing of trumpets. More religious ceremony takes place the following day, dedicated to the Archangel Mikael, after which the priests are fed by their parishioners and young people continue to celebrate in the night.
Best place to witness this festival: Gondor, Lalibela, Axum and Addis abeba.


» Gena (Christmas)
Christmas, called Lidet, is not the primary religious and secular festival that it has become in Western countries. Falling on 7 January, it is celebrated after 43 days fasting known as Tsome Gahad (Advent) , by a church service and spectacular procession that goes on throughout the night, with people moving from one church to another. Traditionally, young men played a game similar to hockey, called genna, on this day, and now Christmas has also come to be known by that name.
Best place to witness this festival: Lalibela


» Meskel ( Finding of the True Cross)
Meskal has been celebrated in the country for over 1600 years. It is celebrated in memory of the finding of the True Cross by Empress Eleni. This is as colorful as Timket, however instead of water the focus of the celebration is a bonfire before topped with an image of a cross to which flowers are tied held on September 27. Priest in full ceremonial dress bless the bonfire before it is lit. This festival coincides with the mass blooming of the golden Maskal Daisies, called Adey Ababa in Amharic, symbolically heralding the advent of a new year after the rainy season is over.

Best places to be witness is Addis Ababa, and at the entire historical route.


» Hidar Tsion in November
The Virgin Mary is one of the most venerated of all religious figures in Ethiopia. About 33 days are annually dedicated to different celebrations in the commemoration of Mary “ Hidar Tsion” is associated with the presence of the Ark of the Covenant in Axum and belief that the Ark itself is a symbolism to her womb.

The festival is attended by tens of thousands of people from all over Ethiopia, making it one of the most joyous annual pilgrimages in Axum, the “sacred city of the Ethiopians.”

Best place to witness this festival: Axum

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