Posts tagged Addis Ababa

Melkam Fasika

I celebrated an amazing Ethiopian Easter this weekend in Addis Ababa. I attended the midnight church services on Saturday night which lasts for over 3 hours. Hundreds of people stand, sit and sleep in and around the church and listen to the prayers and songs wearing all white - it’s the first time I slept at a church service. After that the family gathers in the house and eats doro wat (chicken stew) early in the morning around 5 am to break the fasting season and enjoys delicious Ethiopian coffee. Easter Sunday continues with eating meat all day, because durning the lent season a religious person in Ethiopia only eats vegetarian food. The Easter celebration will continue throughout this week. Everyone wears their best traditional Ethiopian outfit. Happy Fasika!

Wall outside of National Palace :: Addis Ababa

Wall outside of National Palace :: Addis Ababa

Chai & Macchiato :: Addis Ababa

Chai & Macchiato :: Addis Ababa

One Love ♡ Girls at school in Addis Ababa :: Ethiopia

One Love ♡

Girls at school in Addis Ababa :: Ethiopia

Addis Ababa :: Ethiopia

Addis Ababa :: Ethiopia

Children at Menelik II Primary School / Kindergarten :: Addis Ababa Photo for Listros Berlin

Children at Menelik II Primary School / Kindergarten :: Addis Ababa

Photo for Listros Berlin

Getemet :: Full-Time Student :: Weekend Listro :: Addis Ababa

Getemet :: Full-Time Student :: Weekend Listro :: Addis Ababa

Little Beauty :: Addis Ababa

Little Beauty :: Addis Ababa

Students at Menelik II Primary School :: Addis Ababa Photo for Listros Berlin

Students at Menelik II Primary School :: Addis Ababa

Photo for Listros Berlin

Ethiopian Red Fox :: Addis Ababa

Ethiopian Red Fox :: Addis Ababa

Lion of Judah :: Addis Ababa

Lion of Judah :: Addis Ababa

Education and Wisdom for Life :: Addis Ababa

Education and Wisdom for Life :: Addis Ababa

Couple watching the bonfire at Meskel Square :: Addis Ababa

Couple watching the bonfire at Meskel Square :: Addis Ababa

Meskel in Addis Ababa So far I’ve spent the last month in Addis Ababa and getting used to Ethiopia again. The raining season seems to come to an end and we celebrated the New Year here in Ethiopia two weeks ago. On September 27 and the beginning of a new year, Ethiopian Christian Orthodox people celebrate Meskel - the holiday that commemorates the discovery of the true cross by St. Helena in the 4th century. They will burn a large bonfire in the heart of the city on Meskel Square. The bonfire has a cross on top with yellow flowers tied to it. Priests will bless the bonfire, then light it and adults and children will dance and sing around the big fire. After the big bonfire is lit the cross will fall, and depending upon the direction the cross will fall, it has a different meaning. I’m excited to experience this holiday here in Addis tomorrow and I guess I will find out more about it in the next few days. For now here are the yellow flowers of the New Year - Adey Abeba - they will be tied to the cross for Meskel tomorrow. They only bloom in September and symbolize a new beginning for the new year. 

Meskel in Addis Ababa

So far I’ve spent the last month in Addis Ababa and getting used to Ethiopia again. The raining season seems to come to an end and we celebrated the New Year here in Ethiopia two weeks ago. On September 27 and the beginning of a new year, Ethiopian Christian Orthodox people celebrate Meskel - the holiday that commemorates the discovery of the true cross by St. Helena in the 4th century. They will burn a large bonfire in the heart of the city on Meskel Square. The bonfire has a cross on top with yellow flowers tied to it. Priests will bless the bonfire, then light it and adults and children will dance and sing around the big fire. After the big bonfire is lit the cross will fall, and depending upon the direction the cross will fall, it has a different meaning. I’m excited to experience this holiday here in Addis tomorrow and I guess I will find out more about it in the next few days. For now here are the yellow flowers of the New Year - Adey Abeba - they will be tied to the cross for Meskel tomorrow. They only bloom in September and symbolize a new beginning for the new year. 

Tsahai waiting for the rain to end :: Addis Ababa

Tsahai waiting for the rain to end :: Addis Ababa