FESTIVALS

JANUARY
Ledet is the Orthodox Christian Christmas, celebrated on January 7th. People may attend all-night church services on the night of the 6th and there may be all-night processions before the 43-day Advent fast is broken. Genna (hockey) and gugs (similar to polo) are played in some regions, along with horseracing.
Timket, on the 19th, marks Epiphany, and it is one of Ethiopia’s most important events. Replicas of the Ark of the Covenant, known as tabots, are blessed before being paraded back to the church, accompanied by song and dance, feasting, incense, and the sound of bells.

MARCH-APRIL
Fasika is the Orthodox Christian Easter.