Maskal. Which mean “cross” is another important religious festival that has been celebrated in the country for over 1, 600 years. It’s celebrated to commemorate the discovery of the cross upon which Jesus was crucified and founded by Empress Helena, the mother of Constantine the Great. According to sources, the original event took place on 19 March, AD 326, but the currently it’s celebrated on 27th September.
Many of the rites observed throughout the festival are said to be directly connected to the legend of Empress Helena. On the eve, all the ranches are tied together and yellow daisies popularly called Maskal flowers are placed at the top. During the night, these ranches are gathered together in front of the compound gates and ignited. This symbolizes the actions of the Empress, who lit incense and prayed for help when no one would show her the holy Sepulcher. On the place where the smoke drifted she dug and found thee crosses among which the one is the True Cross. Explore Ethiopia will take you to Ethiopia tour religious festivals.
Sept 25 – Oct 3
September 25 arrival in Addis Ababa.
September 26: Addis
September 27 Addis Ababa – Bahir Dar (50min).
September 28 Bahir Dar.
September 29 Bahir Dar – Gondar (20min)
September 30 Gondar – Axum (40 min)
October 1st Axum – Lapbela.
October 2nd Lapbela – Addis Ababa (55min)
October 3rd Continue the remaining part of the city tour. In the evening departure.
Mode of Transport: Domestic Fpght, Private bus, boat,.
Accommodation: In all t "he nights we will have a 3 and 4 star accommodation.
General activities: attending colorful celebration, sight seeing of cities and markets, historic sites tour, boat trip,
Meals: Full board (BLD)
Entrance fees: Included for all sites posted as part of the itinerary.
Celebrated on the 19th of January, it’s the biggest religious festivals in Ethiopia.
On the eve of Timkat, the sacred tabot, a tablet of wood or stone representing the Ark of the Covenant is taken from each church and carried on by priests to the central place where the grand ceremony takes place. After several colorful ceremonies the tabot will be returned to its consecrated resting place with more colorful ceremony.
Jan 12 arrival in Addis Ababa.
Jan 13 City Tour of Addis
Jan 14 Addis Ababa – Bahir Dar (50min).
Jan 15 Bahir Dar
Jan 16 Bahir Dar – Gondar (20min)
Jan 17 Gondar – Lapbela
Jan 18 Lapbela – Axum
Jan 19 Axum
Attend the main celebration of the festival.
Jan 20 Axum – Addis
Jan 21 Departure
Staffing: The whole trip will be escorted by Jacaranda Tours professional guide
Mode of Transport: Domestic Flight, Private bus & boat.
Accommodation: In all the nights we will have a 3 and 4 star accommodation.
General activities: attending colorful celebration, sight seeing of cities and markets, historic sites tour, boat trip,
Meals: Full board ( BLD)
Entrance fees: Included for all sites listed as part of the itinerary.
The Ethiopian Christmas known as “Ganna” is celebrated on January 7th.
This celebration takes place in ancient churches carved from sold volcanic rock and also in modern churches that are designed in three concentric circles.
In Lalibela, this day is celebrated with even more colorful ceremony where priests chant from the dramatic outline atop the rock, from which the church was hewn.
Jan 4- Jan 13
Jan 4 arrival in Addis Ababa.
Jan 5 City Tour of Addis
Jan 6 Addis Ababa – Lapbela
Jan 7 Lapblea
Jan 8 Lapbela – Axum
Jan 9 Axum – Gondar
Jan 10 Gondar - Bahir Dar
Jan 11 Bahir Dar
Jan 12 Bahir Dar - Addis
Jan 13 Departure
Mode of Transport: Domestic Flight, Private bus, boat.
Accommodation: In all the nights we will have a 3 and 4 star accommodation.
General activities: attending colorful celebration, sight seeing of cities and markets, historic sites tour, boat trip,
Meals: Full board (BLD)
Entrance fees: Included for all sites listed as part of the itinerary.
Penals Day- Special prayers ceremony in Axum
Date from August 8- 12
St. Mary of Zion - Axum
Date November 30
St Gabriel Day “ Kulubi”- Harar
Date December 28
Ethiopia is a mosaic of many wonderful people known for their hospitable and friendly welcome. There are about 83 ethnic groups, each speaking its own language and having its own sub culture. Many of the ethnic groups still preserve their unique and fascinating costumes, colorful ceremonies and celebrations, arts and crafts, music and dance. The Hamer, Mussi, Bena, Tsemay, Karo. Dasench,situated in the extreme part of Southern Ethiopia closer to the Omo River Valley, Konso, and Dorze, are among the most visited ethnic groups.
Different religious celebrations and Festivals play such an important role in the Ethiopian society. The Ethiopian Orthodox Church alone celebrates many festivals each year. The following are the most famous festivals: Demera or Meskal is celebrated for the commemoration of the finding of the true cross of Jesus Christ by Empress Helena, on September 26 each year. This colorful celebration is a bonfire topped with an image of a cross to which flowers of golden Yellow Daises (Adey Abeba) are tied and priests in full ceremonial dresses bless the bonfire before it is lit.
Genna (Ethiopian Christmas) , falls on the 7th of January each year, is celebrated by a church service that goes on throughout the night commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ. Genna is more colorful in Lalibela rock hewn churches.
Timket (Ethiopian Epiphany) is the most colorful and greatest festival of the year, falling on 19 January, just two weeks after Genna. It is actually a three day affair, beginning on the eve of Timkat with dramatic processions (Ketera), when the priests remove the tabots (replicas of the tablets which were written by finger of God and given to Moses) from each church and bless the water of the pool or river where the next day's celebration will take place. The following morning, the great day itself, Christ's baptism in the River Jordan by John is commemorated. The water is blessed and sprinkled over everyone in a ceremony where the faithful renew their vows to the church. The third day is devoted to the archangel St. Michael, one of Ethiopia's most popular saints. Everyone, men, women, and children appear splendid for the three day celebration. Dressed in the dazzling white of the traditional dress, the locals provide a spectacular beauty to the colorful ceremony.
Ethiopia is also known as the cradle of mankind. The oldest hominid, Lucy, or Dinknesh as we Ethiopians called her, was living in the Afar Depression, a place called Hadar, 3.2 million years ago.
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