Colors of Addis Ababa - traditions, festivals, mentality and lifestyle

Ethiopia is a country of 13 months and has always been on its own. Today, it remains an attractive place for tourist trips. Ethiopia is a densely populated country, including temporary shelters for 200,000 refugees from neighboring countries. However, for tourists, it is a real paradise here: an unforgettable culture and archeology, a pleasantly warm climate. Indigenous people are friendly to white tourists and treat them without offense and prejudice.

Local residents follow a lot of religious traditions, so travelers are also advised to behave quite restrainedly. If you treat locals with respect, they will always help you. The only topic that you should avoid here with citizens is religion and life. Their traditions are revered for many centuries, and the style of life is considered the most faithful. Ethiopians always communicate with visitors on an equal footing, so any manifestation of arrogance or a hint of racial superiority can offend them.

In Addis Ababa, there is no dislike for Europeans, so tourists can enjoy rest and not worry about racial antipathy. Local residents are distinguished by restraint in literally everything: in clothes, attitude to food and behavior. From visitors, they also expect respectful attitude to their traditions. Too bright outfits and noisy behavior can cause only bewilderment among indigenous people. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

Ethiopian New Year, Enktutatash, is the most favorite and anticipated celebration here. Locals celebrate New Year on September 11. The thing is that the country still lives according to the Julian calendar. Unlike most systems of chronology, the Ethiopian calendar consists of 13 months. Twelve of them include 30 days, and one, the last, consists of only five or six days. The new day here starts not at midnight, but with the sunrise. Enktutatash possesses a huge religious significance, that is why locals always go to the church. The celebration of New Year starts on the evening of September 10. Local residents gather in the main square of the city and build a huge fire from eucalyptus leaves and branches. Traditionally, the head of the country is lighting a fire. By the way, the height of a grandiose structure of eucalyptus branches is not less than six meters.

January 18 is a very special day in the Ethiopian calendar. Timkat is the most important holiday celebrated all over the country, but the most bright performances you will be able to enjoy in the capital - Addis Ababa and in Gondar. The celebration starts in the evening when the huge procession is gathered next to each church. The procession goes to ponds, where prayers and ritual celebrations continue during all the night. At dawn, you will be able to witness one of the most beautiful ceremonies - the holy feast of Timkat. Here, in one of the centers of Christianity in Ethiopia, in the basin of Emperor Facilides, the main ceremony is held. The swimming pool is filled with water, and hundreds of thousands of believers in festive clothes flock to plunge into the holy waters.