Preparing for Easter in Ethiopia

by Selmawit Paulos

Easter is one of the important holidays in Ethiopia. This holiday is celebrated by all orthodox Christians. People who want to fast start on March 7th until April 23rd. "Fast" means that people control what they eat and how much they eat. During this time anyone who fasts shouldn't eat butter, meat and shouldn't drink milk and milk products. If anyone who starts to fast but then eats or drinks the food they shouldn't, they have to stop fasting from that time.

On Easter eve, all orthodox people go to church and pray up to 3:00 a.m. Then they go home and eat " doro watt" and " injera" or any thing they haven't eaten since they started fasting.

Finally, on the Easter day people invite each other to their homes and have a great time with each other.