12+
YEARS OF EXPERIENCE
Our Trips
Colorful Celebrations
Step into Ethiopia’s spiritual rhythm as age-old religious festivals fill the streets with vibrant colors, music, and cultural pride. From bonfires at Meskel Square to water blessings during Timket, this journey offers an immersive experience into the soul of Ethiopia through its most iconic celebrations.
Witness Ethiopia’s most spectacular festivals, where faith, color, and tradition ignite unforgettable cultural moments.
- Meskel Bonfire
- Timket Processions
- Traditional Music
- Ceremonial Costumes
- Religious Icons
- Nightlong Festivities
Main Attractions
Celebrate with Ethiopians during major religious holidays like Meskel, Timket, and Fasika. Watch processions of white-robed pilgrims, witness sacred objects like the Tabot carried through the streets, and feel the energy of thousands praying, dancing, and singing in joyous harmony. The air is rich with incense, tradition, and devotion.
01
Meskel (Finding of the True Cross)
Celebrated every 27th of September, Meskel commemorates Empress Helena’s discovery of the True Cross. In Addis Ababa’s Meskel Square, a giant conical bonfire known as the Damera is set ablaze, surrounded by crowds dressed in white and yellow, symbolizing purity and joy. Priests chant, people dance, and flowers bloom on every hillside—it’s a vibrant blend of faith and festivity.
02
Timket (Epiphany)
Arguably the most dazzling celebration of the year, Timket honors Christ’s baptism in the Jordan River. It begins with a solemn procession where priests carry sacred replicas of the Ark of the Covenant (Tabots) draped in rich cloth. By evening, streets and riverbanks come alive with lanterns, prayers, and hymns. The following morning, believers rush to be blessed with holy water. Gondar and Addis Ababa are epicenters of this celebration.
03
Genna (Ethiopian Christmas)
Celebrated on January 7th, Genna is a day of spiritual joy and family gatherings. The faithful attend mass dressed in white, then enjoy feasts of injera and spicy stews. Traditional stick-fighting games and vibrant church choirs add a cultural dimension that makes Genna both sacred and social.
04
Enkutatash (New Year)
Falling on September 11th, Ethiopia’s New Year—Enkutatash, or the “gift of jewels”—welcomes spring with blooming yellow meskel flowers and renewed hope. Girls sing in groups, gifting painted pictures in return for small money or food. It’s a gentle, cheerful holiday deeply rooted in tradition.
05
Fasika (Easter)
After a 55-day vegan fast, Ethiopians break their abstinence with early morning church services followed by hearty meals and family celebrations. Fasika emphasizes resurrection and renewal, and while quieter than Timket or Meskel, it is equally rich in faith and tradition.
06
Hidar Tsion (Feast of St. Mary)
Celebrated mainly in Axum on November 30th, Hidar Tsion commemorates the presence of the Ark of the Covenant. Pilgrims gather in droves to St. Mary of Zion Church for blessings and overnight vigils. The atmosphere is charged with spiritual anticipation, making it one of Ethiopia’s most sacred events.
