Timket is an Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church and Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church celebration
of Epiphany. It is celebrated on 19 January, corresponding to the 11th day of Terr in the Ge'ez calendar.
Timkat celebrates the baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan.
Christianity is the biggest religion in Ethiopia and 43% of the population is Orthodox
Christian which means that many Ethiopians mark the occasion of Timkat.
Timkat is an Orthodox Christian occasion. It commemorates Christ's baptism and is on 19th of
January (20th on leap years) preparations, called Ketera begin the day and the full event lasts for
3 days.
The most important day is the 19th of January and this is when the blessing of water and reaffirming of
baptism vows to take place.
Timkat is celebrated across the country.
Timkat to mark the baptism of Jesus Christ in the River Jordan. Timkat involves processions,
singing, and dancing.
Ketera: preparations the day before Timkat
On the 18th of January (19th on a leap year) preparations take place for Timkat. On this day
models of the Ark of the Covenant, called Tabots, are taken from churches and wrapped in cloth
and silk. The most senior priest from each church leads the procession to the river or bath,
carrying the tabots on their heads.
The tabot symbolizes the tablets on which the 10 commandments were written and presented to
Moses by God on Mount Sinai. The priests and some other participants keep vigil over the tabots
during the night.
The main celebrations take place on the second day of Timket
Mass begins in the early hours of the morning on January 19th, continuing until around 7
am. Locals wear white clothing and cover their heads with scarves.
Following mass, speeches are made by important church figures and the water is blessed.
Participants then submerge themselves in the water, renewing the vows they made at the
baptism.
This key part of the celebration is a reenactment of the baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan.
The final day of the Timkat festival
The third and final day of Timkat takes place on January 20th (or 21st). The tabots which had
been carried to the water are taken back to the churches in a similar procession.
With this, the annual Timket festivities draw to a close.
What food is eaten during Timkat?
After the reenactment of the baptism of Jesus, pilgrims enjoy a special Timkat feast with their
families.
The typical food eaten at Timkat is Injera, an Ethiopian flatbread that is filled with various meat
and vegetables, and eaten with their hands. Injera is enjoyed at many of Ethiopia’s annual
festivals, such as Meskel which takes place each September.
Doro Wat, an Ethiopian spiced chicken dish, is one of the nation’s most well-known dishes and
is also eaten during Timkat.
The drink of choice is coffee which is often freshly roasted and prepared.
Where to Celebrate Timkat in Ethiopia

Gondar

Abbis Ababa
 Lalibela
Celebrating Timkat in Addis Ababa, the Ethiopian
capital

Addis Ababa is the capital of Ethiopia with many interesting things to see and do including
museums, markets, and churches. The largest church in Addis Ababa is the Medhane Alem
Cathedral.
Most overseas visitors arrive at Addis Ababa Bole International Airport which is just 4 miles
(6km) from the city center.
Some of the biggest Timkat festivities take place in Gondar
Gondar is an ancient Ethiopian city, in the north of the country. Gondar was particularly
important during the reign of Emperor Fasilides in the 17th century, during this time palaces,
castles, and a royal bath were built. It is this royal bath that is filled once a year at Timkat.
Tourists can take a domestic flight from Addis Ababa to Gondar Airport, also known as Atse
Tewodros Airport. The journey takes one hour.
Lalibela, one of the holiest cities in Ethiopia
The rock-hewn churches of Lalibela are famous. Lalibela is one of the most religious cities in
Ethiopia and an important place for pilgrimages.
Pilgrims from across the land flock to Lalibela to take part in Tamika processions. Lalibela is
also in the north of Ethiopia, the flight from Addis Ababa to Lalibela Airport takes one hour.
Advice for Tourists Traveling to Ethiopia for
Timkat
.
Timket (Ge'ez: ጥጥጥጥ T’imk’et) is an Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church and Eritrean Orthodox
Tewahedo Church celebration of Epiphany. It is celebrated on 19 January (or 20 in a leap year), corresponding
to the 11th day of Terr in the Ge'ez calendar.
Timkat celebrates the baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan. This festival is best known for its ritual
reenactment of baptism (similar to such reenactments performed by numerous Christian the Holy Land when
they visit the Jordan).
Ethiopian Tewahedo priests at a Timkat ceremony in Jan Meda.
During the ceremonies of Timkat, the Tabot, a model of the Ark of the Covenant, which is present on every
Ethiopian altar (somewhat like the Western altar stone), is reverently wrapped in rich cloth and borne in
procession on the head of the priest.[1] The Tabot, which is otherwise rarely seen by the laity, represents the
manifestation of Jesus as the Messiah when he came to the Jordan for baptism. The Divine Liturgy is
celebrated near a stream or pool early in the morning (around 2 a.m.). Then the nearby body of water is
blessed towards dawn and sprinkled on the participants, some of whom enter the water and immerse
themselves, symbolically renewing their baptismal vows. But the festival does not end there; Donald N.
Levine describes a typical celebration of the early 1960s:
By noon on Timqat Day a large crowd has assembled at the ritual site, those who went home for a little sleep
having returned, and the holy ark is escorted back to its church in colorful procession and festivities. The
clergy, bearing robes and umbrellas of many hues, perform hymns and; the elders march solemnly, attended by
middle-aged men singing long-drawn, low-pitched songs and hymns in their own manner; and the children run
about with activities and may participate in the services. Dressed up in their finest, the women chatter excitedly
on their one real day of freedom in the year. The young braves leap up and down in spirited dances, tirelessly
repeating rhythmic songs. This celebration is also registered in UNESCO as an intangible heritage. When the
holy ark has been safely restored to its dwelling-place, everyone goes home for feasting. This holiday is one of
the greatest holidays if not the greatest.[2]