November marked the beginning of the advent or Christmas fast which runs from 24
November until Gena (Ethiopian Christmas) on 7 January, so it’s a great time for
vegans and vegetarians to enjoy the lovely fasting food at traditional
restaurants, and the fried whole fish that is often served too.
The biggest annual Saints’ Day in December is Saint Gabriel (28 December). On
this day, you want to avoid the big St. Gabriel churches in Addis unless you
want to attend the service as roads are crowded and many closed. The roads going up to the palace above the Hilton are always blocked off as thousands head to St. Gabriel’s church.
The archangel Gabriel is one of the most revered saints in the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church.
However, the epicenter of this festival is a major pilgrimage to Kulubi, a town
not far from Dire Dawa and Harar. Here tens of thousands of pilgrims descend on the
church (built in 1880) some crawling on hands and knees as a penance or to fulfil a
vow to St. Gabriel.
Orthodox Tewahedo (one in union) Christians mark the
celebration with colorful processions and ceremonies. Kulubi is the largest
pilgrimage place in Ethiopia. Babies born through St. Gabriel’s intervention are brought
to the front of the Church for baptism. During the duration of the celebration about
1,000 babies may be christened, most of them named after St. Gabriel.
Learn more about the holidays, Saints’ days, fasts and special holidays that
punctuate the Ethiopian Calendar from the Tesfa Tours Calendar.
email: calendars@tesfatours.com
SOURCE: www.tesfatours.com/info@tesfatours.com
Kulubi Gabriel: Annual Celebration In December
