Timkat

Timkat is a holiday observed by Ethiopian Orthodox Christians who celebrate the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River on Epiphany.

Why is it important?

Taking place in Ethiopia every year on 19th January (or the 20th on leap years) Timket (Ge'ez: ßîÑßêØßëÇßëÁ T'imk'et) is an Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church and Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church celebration of Epiphany. It celebrates the baptism of Jesus Christ in the Jordan River and is best known for its ritual re-enactment of the baptism, similar to such reenactments performed by numerous Christian the Holy Land when they visit the Jordan).

Significance

Epiphany (Aster'eyo in Ge'ez) denotes the manifestation of the mystery of the Trinitarian God in which God the Father testified the sonship of Jesus, and the Holy Spirit revealed itself as a dove right at the Jordan River when Jesus was baptized. Timkat is also the religious practice that initiates a child to Christendom. Timkat celebration, held annually on the 19th of January, is primarily a function in the purview of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, a church possibly as old as Christianity itself. As indicated in the Bible, an Ethiopian eunuch was the first person to be baptized when he was on an official visit to Jerusalem. (Acts 8:26-40)

The first mystery of the Christian faith rests in and around Epiphany, which traditionally calls for grand annual celebrations among Christians in Ethiopia

Timkat commemorates Christ's baptism and takes place over 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. 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.

A colorful celebration

Timkat is a very colorful annual event in the city of Gondar (the capital city of Ethiopia from the early 17th to mid-19th century), a city known as the Camelot of Africa.

The whole city – especially areas along the path to the baptismal pool – is adorned with flags of Ethiopia. Adherents of the faith, especially women, wear clothes with green, yellow and red signifying the Ethiopian flag as the symbol of the rainbow, which in itself means the covenant between man and God.

Ketera

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.

Traditions on Timkat

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.

Food

The typical food eaten at Timkat is Injera, an Ethiopian flatbread that is filled with various meat and vegetables, and eaten with their hands.

Doro Wat, an Ethiopian spiced chicken dish, is one of the nation's most well-known dishes and is also eaten during Timkat.

The Final Day

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.