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Ledet (Christmas)
Ledet (Christmas) falls on December 29 Ethiopian calendar (January 7
Gregorian calendar). Ledet (Christmas) is celebrated after 43 days
fasting known as Tsome Gahad (Advent), with a spectacular procession,
which begins at 6 AM and lasts until 9 AM. After the mass service,
people go home to break the fast with the meat of chicken or lamb or
beef accompanied with injera and the traditional drinks (i.e. tella or
tej).
Fasika (Easter)
Fasika (Easter) is celebrated after 55 days severe Lent fasting (Hudade
or Abye Tsome). Orthodox Tewahedo Christians do not eat meat and diary
products for the whole 55 days. Vegetarian meals such as lentils, ground
split peas, grains, fruit and varieties of vegetable stew accompanied by
injera and/or bread are only eaten on these days. The fist meal of the
day is taken after 3 PM (9 o'clock in the afternoon Ethiopian time)
during the fasting days, except Saturdays and Sundays, where a meal is
allowed after the morning service.
On Easter eve people go to church and celebrate with candles which are
lit during a colourful Easter mass service which begins at about 6 PM
(12 o'clock in the evening Ethiopian time) and ends at about 2 AM (8
o'clock after mid-night Ethiopian time). Everyone goes home to break the
fast with the meat of chicken or lamb, slaughtered the previous night
after 6 PM, accompanied with injera and traditional drinks (i.e. tella
or tej). Like Christmas, Easter is also a day of family re-union, an
expression of good wishes with exchange of gifts (i.e. lamb, goat or
loaf of bread).
