Today, I’m joining the Timkat festival, a celebration of the Epiphany that’s particularly revered in Ethiopia. One of the major sites is actually taking place in my neighbourhood across from where I live in a local soccer field. The celebration is pretty much 24/7 for a few days, and since I’m still jetlagging, I get to experience Timkat in its entirety.
Timkat is also known as Three Kings Day, and because Ethiopians widely believe one of Jesus’ Kings was Ethiopian, Timkat has particularly strong roots in their culture. It’s a colourful experience, especially in holy sites such as Gondar and Lalibela, which I’ll visit later, and it’s a photographer’s dream.
As the morning progresses, the crowd size increases as does the energy of celebrations, and the singing/chanting goes all night long for a few days.
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