Ethiopian Timket
Every year an event is celebrated by the Ethiopian Orthodox Church on the 10th of Tir, or 19th or 20th January during a leap year of Georgian calendar called the Timket. Timket or Epiphany is an event which celebrated with great zeal, enthusiasm, and respect to commemorate the actual baptism of Jesus Christ in River Jordan. The festivities last for a total of three days during which processions and prayers are a common sight.
The event attracts thousands of pilgrims from all around the world to the ancient land of churches at Lalibela and city of Gondar during winters. Contrary to what many believe, Timket is rather a festival of color, music, and religiosity all happening at once. Priests are all dressed up in festive Ethiopian clothing and robes that are heavily embellished, while some wear crowns that are so old that almost seem like a play reenactment from the bible. They carry the holy cross and chant melancholic tunes throughout the day-time processions; however, all priests are men and while the procession continues women are only allowed to witness the event from sidelines.
While priests don traditional Ethiopian clothes and ancient Ethiopian robes, the local men and women dress up in the best clothes they have which obviously are of the Ethiopian descent. Usually, white clothes are preferred with a hint or mix of other bright colors but everyone wears the best piece of clothing that is available to them during this time. As there is even a saying regarding the clothing which goes somewhat like “A dress that is not worn to Timket shall be torn to shred”.
As the event continues, there comes the second day when followers of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church throw themselves into the water during the early hours of the day- that is during early morning to show and redeem their vows and commitment to the religion.
On the final day of the event, all men and women except for priests wear clean white traditional Ethiopian robes and followed by a procession that is led by the priests who however are dressed in luxuriant fabrics with luxuriously big and embellished umbrellas. There is singing and dancing while carrying religiously symbolic ornaments such as the holy cross. During the parade, the priests spray over the holy water on the onlookers. When all this is going on, some elderly choose to stick to the traditional ceremonial services such as holding the fans while other recites verses from the bible.
