Festivals
Ethiopian festivals and ceremonies
Dates, meaning and visiting tips for the celebrations worth planning a trip around.
Festivals and ceremonies
WinterLalibela, Axum, Gondar, Addis Ababa, and nationwide Orthodox communities
Ethiopian Christmas (Genna)
Experience Christmas as it was celebrated centuries ago, with all-night vigils, ancient hymns, and pilgrims filling sacred spaces. In the rock-hewn…
Varies according to Islamic calendarHarar, Dire Dawa, Addis Ababa, Wollo, Jimma, and nationwide Muslim communities
Ethiopian Eid (Eid al-Fitr & Eid al-Adha)
Join Ethiopia's Muslim communities in celebrations that blend universal Islamic traditions with distinctive local flavors, especially in the ancient…
SpringNationwide, especially vibrant in Addis Ababa, Lalibela, Gondar
Ethiopian New Year (Enkutatash)
Welcome the Ethiopian New Year as golden meadows burst with vibrant yellow flowers, marking spring's arrival and the end of rainy season. This…
SpringAddis Ababa (Meskel Square), nationwide Orthodox communities
Meskel (Finding of the True Cross)
Watch as twilight transforms city squares and village clearings into landscapes of flickering flame. Massive bonfires crowned with crosses blaze…
WinterGondar (most famous), Lalibela, Addis Ababa, Bahir Dar, Aksum
Timkat (Epiphany)
Witness Ethiopia's most spectacular religious celebration as thousands in white robes follow processions of jeweled umbrellas and ancient tabots.…
Want to be there for a ceremony?
Dates shift each year. Tell us when you can travel and we will check what is happening.