Ethiopian Easter Sunday

Easter is one of the most colorfully celebrated festivals in the Ethiopian Orthodox church and is a more important festival than Christmas, as death has greater meaning than birth in Orthodox Christianity. Like the other festivals, Easter is colorfully celebrated at Axum and Lalibela. Easter, also called Fasika, is a festival that follows a fasting period of 56 days.

During this time, no animal or dairy products are eaten for the entire period. Vegetarian meals such as lentils, ground split peas, grains, fruit, and varieties of vegetable stew accompanied by injera and/or bread are all that is eaten during these days. On Easter Eve people go to church and celebrate with candles which are lit and form an important part of the Easter Mass Service which begins at 6 pm and ends at about 2 am. Afterwards everyone returns home to break their fast. Easter is also a day of family gatherings and an expression of good wishes, gifts (i.e. lamb, goat or loaf of bread) are exchanged.