Easter or Fasika in Amharic begins with 53 days of fasting in which no meat or animal products are consumed. This includes all meat, eggs, milk, butter, etc... (It amazes me that in a country in which many do not have enough to eat, fasting is a common way to show God honor. Here in America where we have so much, fasting is rare. Perhaps having little makes one more aware of Who supplies one's needs?)
Palm Sunday or Hosanna (I love that name for it!) is the Sunday before Easter. It is the a celebration of the day Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey. Crowds gathered, people laid down their cloaks in reverence so the donkey's feet would not touch the dirty path. In our church in America, Palm Sunday has a festive feel. The children usually enter the sanctuary waving palm branches. I have explained Palm Sunday many times as the "parade for Jesus."
Hosanna is celebrated in much the same way in Ethiopia. In addition to palms being used in a processional some of the most devout followers weave their palms into rings or crowns. These usually have a cross as a part of the design. They are worn until Easter as a symbol and reminder of all that Jesus chose to endure to save us.
Good Friday services are observed. Good Friday is a national holiday in which many go to church services. A few Ethiopians go to church Thursday to recognize the last supper and remain until Easter Sunday!
The Easter celebration begins on the Saturday before Easter Sunday. About 8pm people begin the processional to their houses of worship. The processional is a very festive affair. The people are filled with excitement. They are wearing mostly white, the traditional Ethiopian ceremonial clothing. They worship, pray, and study the scriptures until 3 AM. At 3 AM they celebrate the resurrection of Christ. They then return home. Some break their fast immediately, others sleep a few hours and then wake to break their fast. (Remember the 53 days without meat products... I would be most anxious to eat some protein!)
I did not find very good pictures of Ethiopian Easter traditions, but have read the Fasika/Easter is the most important holiday in Ethiopia.
I pray that this Easter has a special meaning to each of you. I pray we each experience the miracle of Christ's love and resurrection in a new and unexpected way. May the resurrection become real to each of us in a way we have never before experienced.
Happy Fasika to you! And thank you Jesus for enduring the cross for us!
There are some traditional breads that are eated at Easter. Also beg wat (lambs stew) is eaten with injera. The feasting is ceremonial and very festive as one might imagine after such a long time of fasting.
