Ethiopian Epiphany – Festival in Gonder

Package Overview

Timket, Feast of Epiphany, is the greatest festival of the year, falling on 19 January, just two weeks after the Ethiopian Christmas. It is actually a three-day affair, beginning on the Eve of Timket with dramatic and colorful processions. The following morning, the great day itself, Christ’s baptism in the Jordan River by John the Baptist is commemorated. The third day is devoted to the Feast of St Michael, the archangel, one of Ethiopia’s most popular saints.
Since October and the end of the rains, the country has been drying up steadily. The sun blaze down from a clear blue sky and the Festival of Timket always takes place in glorious weather.
Enormous effort is pout in to the occasion. Tej and Tella (Ethiopian mead and beer) are brewed, special bread is baked, and the fat- tailed African sheep are fattened for slaughter. Gifts are prepared for the children and new clothes purchased or old clothes mended and laundered. Everyone men, Women and children appears resplendent for the three day celebration. Dressed in the dazzling white of the traditional dress, the locals provide a dramatic contrast o the jewel colors of the ceremonial velvets and satins of the priests’ robes and sequined velvet umbrellas.
On the eve of 18 January, ketera, the priests remove the Tabots from each church and bless the water of the pool or river where the next day’s celebration will take place. It is the Tabot (symbolizing the Ark of the Covenant containing the Ten Commandments) rather than the church building which is consecrated and accorded extreme reverence. Not to be desecrated by the gaze of the layman, the engraved wooden or stone slab is carried under layers of rich cloth. In Addis Ababa, many churches bring their Tabots to Jan Meda (the horse racing course of imperial days) accompanied by priests bearing prayer sticks and sistra, the ringing of bells and blowing trumpets, and swinging bronze censors from which wisps of incense smoke escape in to the evening air. The Tabots rest in their special tents in the meadow, each hoisting a proud banner depicting the church’s Saint in front.
The priests pray throughout the long cold night and mass are performed around 02:00. Huge crowds of people camp out, eating and drinking by the light of flickering fires and torches. Towards dawn the patriarch dons a golden cross and extinguishes a burning consecrated candle in the water. Then he sprinkles water on the assembled congregation in commemoration of Christ’s baptism. Many of the more fervent leaps fully dressed in to the water to renew their vows.
Following the baptism the Tabots start back to their respective churches, while feasting, singing and dancing continue at Jan Meda. The procession winds through town again as the horsemen cavort alongside, their mounts handsomely decorated with red tassels, embroidered saddle cloths, and silver bridles. The elders march solemnly, accompanied by singing, leaping priests and young men, while the bathing of staffs and prayer sticks recalls the ancient rites of the Old Testament.
Tour can be customized and combined with other sitesVisa fee
Air tickets
Photo and video fees
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Day wise Itinerary

• Day 1 : Addis Ababa

  Upon arrival in Addis Ababa in them morning, you will be met at the airport and transfer to Hotel.
  Afternnon will be spend for sight seeing of Addis Ababa,
  Visit Haile Selassie’s former palace which is the now home of the Ethnological Museum. Exhibits here represent the best of the arts and crafts of the country and give an in-depth insight into the various peoples of Ethiopia
  Visit to the National Museum, known to be the best museum in Africa, where cultural and archaeological relics, including a plaster cast of "Lucy," the 3.2 million-year-old Hominid, are displayed.
  At the end of the day you will see the Mercato, eastern Africa’s largest market.
  

  • Meals & Drinks Lunch Dinner
• Day 2 : Drive to Bahirdar

  Today we have a bus journey that will take up onto the Escarpment above Addis and to the high plains with wonderful panoramas of African country life as we travel through one of the most productive agricultural Areas in Ethiopia, This is a journey that is immensely rewarding.
  We stop at villages along the way and get a good appreciation of rural life. The Highlight is visit Debrelibanos monastery and the Blue Nile and the gorge which we cross by the new bridge before rising again to continue our journey O/N Available tourist standard hotel

  • Meals & Drinks Breakfast Lunch Dinner
• Day 3 : Bahirdar

  Morning, you will have a boat trip on Lake Tana to view the magnificently preserved Island Monasteries of the 13th century ,the trip include the visit of ancient church and treasury of Ura Kidane Mehret at Zeghie Peninsula and Azua Mariam on the island.
  Afternoon; you leave for Tissisat falls (Blue Nile Falls), on your way to Bahir dar, it followed by a 30 minute walk from the road to the falls. Here, the Blue Nile starts its journey to the Mediterranean. These amazing waterfalls are 400 meters wide and more than 45 meters in height. O/N Available Tourist standard hotel

  • Meals & Drinks Breakfast Lunch Dinner
• Day 4 : Drive To Gondor

  Morning drives to Gondor and check in to your hotel.
  -Afternoon attend Ketera (Eve of Timket/Epiphany/) - the day of commemorating the baptism of Jesus Christ in the Jordan River. O/N Available hotel

  • Meals & Drinks Breakfast Lunch Dinner
• Day 5 : Gondor

  This morning we will be witnessing the climax of the Timket festivities. This day is all the Tabots except St. Michael return with grace and church chanting to their dedicated correspondent church. You will leave the town after a short stay around the Tabots before returning of the Tabots with grace to its correspondent church.
  - PM rest of the day will be spent touring the fascinating sights for which Gondar is famous. O/N Available tourist standard hotel

  • Meals & Drinks Breakfast Lunch Dinner
• Day 6 : Addis & Departure

  Fly back to Addis, Last minute shopping, evening there will be farewell dinner party in Ethiopian cultural restaurant with live music and then transfer to Airport for your international flight

  • Meals & Drinks Breakfast Lunch Dinner

Inclusions

• Transfers

Exclusions

• Visa fee
• Air tickets
• Photo and video fees

Package Start From

• Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Africa

Terms & Conditions

This Tour is Offered by

• Menelik Ave II, Kirkos Sub City, Inside The National Hotel Off Meskel Square, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia - 17057
• XXXXXX5119 View Contact
• XXXXXXXXXX@horizonethiopiatours.com View Mail ID

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