Fasika in Ethiopia ― Date, History, and Details
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History of Fasika in Ethiopia and How to Celebrate/ Observe It
Fasika is an important festival in Ethiopia that has been celebrated for centuries. It marks the end of Lent, a period of fasting and prayer that lasts for 55 days from the start of Lent on the 10th day of the month of Maskaram (roughly late September). The festival is celebrated with great joy and enthusiasm as it marks the beginning of Easter and the start of a new year according to the Ethiopian calendar.
The celebration of Fasika involves a variety of activities, including prayers and thanksgiving, feasting, singing and dancing, processions, and many other festivities. In some areas, people dress up in traditional clothing and decorate their homes with flowers and colorful fabrics. On the morning of Fasika, families gather together to enjoy a special breakfast known as “futu” which is usually made of hard-boiled eggs, injera (a type of flatbread), honey, butter, and spices. After the meal, they attend church services and then take part in the procession led by a priest carrying a cross and a banner.
To observe Fasika, people typically offer food to the needy and visit family and friends. They also exchange gifts such as food, clothes, and money, and listen to music and dance. Some people also light candles around the home or in churches to symbolize the light of Christ that brought them out of darkness. At the end of the day, most people spend time with their family, reflecting on the past year and looking forward to the next.