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Rock-hewn church in Lalibela. Photo credit to Jessica Ferm and Raj Thind on behalf of the Ryder-Tremberth Trust, for more info email neilryder@btinternet.com
When:
Apr 2009 (annual)
Where:
Ethiopia
Cost:
Free
Opening Hours:
All day & night
Ethiopian Easter, which takes place in Orthodox Churches throughout the country, tends to fall after Easter in the western calendar. It is a more important festival than Christmas, since death is more important than birth in Orthodox Christianity.
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Easter Friday is a day of preparation and church-going. People go and prostrate themselves in church, up and down, up and down... 101 times! The main religious mass takes place on Saturday night, a sombre, sacred occasion with music and dancing until the early hours of the morning. At 3am, everyone returns home to break their fast and a chicken is slaughtered at midnight for the symbolic occasion.
In the morning, after a rest, a sheep is slaughtered to commence the feasting on Easter Sunday. A day when people really let go, there is a release of enjoyment after the long build-up of suffering which has taken place. People often overdose on food and locally-brewed alcohol (tej, tella and katikalla).
In the morning, after a rest, a sheep is slaughtered to commence the feasting on Easter Sunday. A day when people really let go, there is a release of enjoyment after the long build-up of suffering which has taken place. People often overdose on food and locally-brewed alcohol (tej, tella and katikalla).
Event details can change.
Please check with the organisers that the event is happening before making travel arrangements.
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