Orthodox Calendar & UNESCO Heritage

The holy year and the places that hold it.

Greetings for every feast day β€” and the Ethiopian sites and living traditions UNESCO has inscribed as heritage of all humanity.

Coming up
Enkutatash (New Year)
09-11 Β· Ethiopian New Year, marking the end of the rainy season. Children sing 'Abebayehosh' carrying yellow meskel daisies.
መልካም αŠ α‹²αˆ΅ α‹“αˆ˜α‰΅
Melkam Addis Amet
ገ
01-07 Β· Genna

Genna (Ethiopian Christmas)

Ethiopian Orthodox Christmas, celebrated on January 7th with white shamma cloth, hymns, and the gursha meal.

መልካም αŒˆαŠ“
Melkam Genna
Happy Christmas
αŒ₯
01-19 Β· Timket

Timket (Epiphany)

The most colorful Orthodox festival, commemorating the baptism of Christ. Tabots are carried in procession.

መልካም αŒ₯αˆα‰€α‰΅
Melkam Timket
Happy Timket
የ
03-02 Β· Ye'Adwa Dil

Adwa Victory Day

Commemorates the 1896 defeat of the Italian colonial army β€” a defining moment for African sovereignty.

መልካም α‹¨αŠ α‹΅α‹‹ α‰ α‹“αˆ
Melkam ye'Adwa be'al
Happy Adwa holiday
ፋ
04-20 Β· Fasika

Fasika (Ethiopian Easter)

Follows 55 days of fasting (Hudadi). Marked by all-night vigil and the breaking of the fast with doro wat.

መልካም α‹αˆ²αŠ«
Melkam Fasika
Happy Easter
αŠ₯
09-11 Β· Enkutatash

Enkutatash (New Year)

Ethiopian New Year, marking the end of the rainy season. Children sing 'Abebayehosh' carrying yellow meskel daisies.

መልካም αŠ α‹²αˆ΅ α‹“αˆ˜α‰΅
Melkam Addis Amet
Happy New Year
መ
09-27 Β· Meskel

Meskel (Finding of the True Cross)

Celebrates the discovery of the True Cross. The Demera bonfire is lit on Meskel Square in Addis Ababa.

መልካም αˆ˜αˆ΅α‰€αˆ
Melkam Meskel
Happy Meskel