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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 2010 (annual)
Where:
Ethiopia
Cost:
Free
Opening Hours:
Daily all day
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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