Feast of Ethiopian Epiphany called Timket 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.
During the ceremonies of Timkat, the Tabot, a model of the Ark of Covenant, which is present on every Ethiopian Church, is reverently wrapped in rich cloth and born in procession on the head of the priest.The Tabot, which is otherwise rarely seen by the laity, represents the manifestation of Jesus as the Messiah when he came to the Jordan for baptism. The Divine Liturgy is celebrated near a stream or pool early in the morning (around 2 a.m.). Then the nearby body of water is blessed towards dawn and Sprinkled on the participants, some of whom enter the water and immerse themselves, symbolically renewing their baptismal Vows. But the festival does not end there; Donald Levine describes a typical celebration of the early 1960s:
By noon on Timqat Day a large crowd has assembled at the ritual site, those who went home for a little sleep having returned, and the holy ark is escorted back to its church in colorful procession. The clergy, bearing robes and umbrellas of many hues, perform rollicking dances and songs; the elders march solemnly with their weapons, attended by middle-ages men singing a long-drawn, low-pitched haaa hooo; and the children run about with sticks and games. Dressed up in their finest, the women chatter excitedly on their one real day of freedom in the year. The young braves leap up and down in spirited dances, tirelessly repeating rhythmic songs. When the holy ark has been safely restored to its dwelling-place, everyone goes home for feasting.
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.
Footprints Ethiopia Tour and Travel organize a fixed departure tours for Ethiopian Epiphany Timket Tours. Epiphany in Gondor, Epiphany in Lalibela, Epiphany in Axum, and as Epiphany in Addis Ababa .
Best place to witness Ethiopian Epiphany festival: Gondar, Lalibela, Axum , Addis Ababa and Bahir Dar.
