Festivals and religious celebrations in Ethiopia are often great and colourful events where everyone enjoys feasting. Important Christian holidays include Christmas or Genna on 7 January, Timkat or Epiphany on 19 January, and Easter or Fasika (lunar dependant, around April). Timkat, which marks Christ’s baptism, is the most colourful event of the year.

The two-day feast of Meskal marks the finding of the True Cross on 27 September. Kidus Yohannes or Enkutatash, New Year’s Day, comes on 11 September, which coincides with the end of the season of heavy rains and the beginning of spring. Muslim holidays are based on the lunar calendar and consequently fall at different times each year. The ninth month of the Muslim calendar is devoted to Ramadan, which is observed by fasting. The end of Ramadan is celebrated by a feast. The greatest feast of the year is Eid al-Fitr, which celebrates the Prophet Mohammed’s birthday or Mawlid, on 20 September. HFCE children love the festivals as it is one of the few occasions they have the opportunity of eating meat.