--- title: "Ethiopian Cultural Calendar | Taste of Ethiopia" description: "Explore Ethiopia’s cultural, national and religious celebrations, including Enkutatash, Meskel, Genna, Timket, Fasika, Eid, Irreecha, Buhe and Ashenda." url: "https://testofethiopiarestaurant.com.au/events" --- ETHIOPIA · ONE YEAR · MANY TRADITIONS # A year of *Ethiopian culture.* Start with the celebration coming up next, then follow Ethiopia’s major public, religious and living-heritage days in date order. Every dated event counts down to its next occurrence. ![A cross silhouetted against a blazing Meskel Demera bonfire](https://testofethiopiarestaurant.com.au/assets/events/meskel.webp) NEXT IN ETHIOPIA’S CALENDAR National religious holiday and UNESCO heritage ## Meskel መስቀል Meskel brings communities together around the glowing Demera bonfire to remember the Finding of the True Cross. Sunday 27 September 2026 **\--** days **\--** hours **\--** minutes **\--** seconds Meskerem 17, 2019 E.C. · Addis Ababa time [Understand the celebration](https://testofethiopiarestaurant.com.au/events/meskel) THE CULTURAL YEAR ## What comes next. Celebrations are ordered by their closest upcoming date in Addis Ababa time. Islamic dates remain expected until confirmed by moon sighting. [Read about Meskel](https://testofethiopiarestaurant.com.au/events/meskel) Orthodox ### [Meskel](https://testofethiopiarestaurant.com.au/events/meskel) መስቀል Meskel brings communities together around the glowing Demera bonfire to remember the Finding of the True Cross. Sunday 27 September 2026 **\--** days **\--** hours **\--** minutes **\--** seconds [Read the full story](https://testofethiopiarestaurant.com.au/events/meskel) [Read about Irreecha](https://testofethiopiarestaurant.com.au/events/irreecha) Living heritage ### [Irreecha](https://testofethiopiarestaurant.com.au/events/irreecha) Irreecha is the Oromo thanksgiving festival of gratitude, renewal, peace and the arrival of Birraa after the rainy season. 3 Oct 2026 - 4 Oct 2026 **\--** days **\--** hours **\--** minutes **\--** seconds [Read the full story](https://testofethiopiarestaurant.com.au/events/irreecha) [Read about Ethiopian National Unity Day](https://testofethiopiarestaurant.com.au/events/national-unity-day) National ### [Ethiopian National Unity Day](https://testofethiopiarestaurant.com.au/events/national-unity-day) A day recognising Ethiopia's nations, nationalities and peoples and the country's many languages, histories and cultural traditions. Wednesday 9 December 2026 **\--** days **\--** hours **\--** minutes **\--** seconds [Read the full story](https://testofethiopiarestaurant.com.au/events/national-unity-day) [Read about Genna](https://testofethiopiarestaurant.com.au/events/genna) Orthodox ### [Genna](https://testofethiopiarestaurant.com.au/events/genna) ገና Ethiopian Christmas is a deeply observed feast of worship, white cotton dress, family food and the end of a long fast. Thursday 7 January 2027 **\--** days **\--** hours **\--** minutes **\--** seconds [Read the full story](https://testofethiopiarestaurant.com.au/events/genna) [Read about Timket](https://testofethiopiarestaurant.com.au/events/timket) Orthodox ### [Timket](https://testofethiopiarestaurant.com.au/events/timket) ጥምቀት Timket, Ethiopian Epiphany, fills streets and waterside gathering places with processions, song and the blessing of water. 19 Jan 2027 - 20 Jan 2027 **\--** days **\--** hours **\--** minutes **\--** seconds [Read the full story](https://testofethiopiarestaurant.com.au/events/timket) [Read about Ethiopian Martyrs' Day](https://testofethiopiarestaurant.com.au/events/yekatit-12) National ### [Ethiopian Martyrs' Day](https://testofethiopiarestaurant.com.au/events/yekatit-12) የካቲት ፲፪ Yekatit 12 remembers Ethiopians killed during the Italian occupation, especially the Addis Ababa massacre of February 1937. Saturday 20 February 2027 **\--** days **\--** hours **\--** minutes **\--** seconds [Read the full story](https://testofethiopiarestaurant.com.au/events/yekatit-12) [Read about Adwa Victory Day](https://testofethiopiarestaurant.com.au/events/adwa-victory-day) National ### [Adwa Victory Day](https://testofethiopiarestaurant.com.au/events/adwa-victory-day) የአድዋ ድል Adwa Victory Day honours Ethiopia's 1896 victory over the invading Italian army, a landmark of African independence. Tuesday 2 March 2027 **\--** days **\--** hours **\--** minutes **\--** seconds [Read the full story](https://testofethiopiarestaurant.com.au/events/adwa-victory-day) [Read about Eid al-Fitr](https://testofethiopiarestaurant.com.au/events/eid-al-fitr) Muslim ### [Eid al-Fitr](https://testofethiopiarestaurant.com.au/events/eid-al-fitr) Eid al-Fitr closes Ramadan with communal prayer, generous hospitality, new clothing and care for neighbours in need. Wednesday 10 March 2027 Expected date **\--** days **\--** hours **\--** minutes **\--** seconds [Read the full story](https://testofethiopiarestaurant.com.au/events/eid-al-fitr) [Read about Siklet](https://testofethiopiarestaurant.com.au/events/siklet) Orthodox ### [Siklet](https://testofethiopiarestaurant.com.au/events/siklet) ስቅለት Ethiopian Good Friday is a solemn day of long church services, prayer, prostration and reflection before Fasika. Friday 30 April 2027 **\--** days **\--** hours **\--** minutes **\--** seconds [Read the full story](https://testofethiopiarestaurant.com.au/events/siklet) [Read about International Workers' Day](https://testofethiopiarestaurant.com.au/events/international-workers-day) National ### [International Workers' Day](https://testofethiopiarestaurant.com.au/events/international-workers-day) A nationwide public holiday recognising workers and the social and economic contribution of labour. Saturday 1 May 2027 **\--** days **\--** hours **\--** minutes **\--** seconds [Read the full story](https://testofethiopiarestaurant.com.au/events/international-workers-day) [Read about Fasika](https://testofethiopiarestaurant.com.au/events/fasika) Orthodox ### [Fasika](https://testofethiopiarestaurant.com.au/events/fasika) ፋሲካ Ethiopian Easter brings the long Lenten fast to a joyful close with worship, family reunions and a generous shared feast. Sunday 2 May 2027 **\--** days **\--** hours **\--** minutes **\--** seconds [Read the full story](https://testofethiopiarestaurant.com.au/events/fasika) [Read about Patriots' Victory Day](https://testofethiopiarestaurant.com.au/events/patriots-victory-day) National ### [Patriots' Victory Day](https://testofethiopiarestaurant.com.au/events/patriots-victory-day) የአርበኞች ድል The day honours Ethiopian patriots and the restoration of sovereignty after the five-year Italian occupation. Wednesday 5 May 2027 **\--** days **\--** hours **\--** minutes **\--** seconds [Read the full story](https://testofethiopiarestaurant.com.au/events/patriots-victory-day) [Read about Eid al-Adha](https://testofethiopiarestaurant.com.au/events/eid-al-adha) Muslim ### [Eid al-Adha](https://testofethiopiarestaurant.com.au/events/eid-al-adha) Eid al-Adha is a feast of faith, sacrifice and generosity, marked by prayer and sharing food with family and people in need. Monday 17 May 2027 Expected date **\--** days **\--** hours **\--** minutes **\--** seconds [Read the full story](https://testofethiopiarestaurant.com.au/events/eid-al-adha) [Read about Mawlid](https://testofethiopiarestaurant.com.au/events/mawlid) Muslim ### [Mawlid](https://testofethiopiarestaurant.com.au/events/mawlid) Mawlid honours the birth of the Prophet Muhammad through prayer, teaching, devotional poetry and acts of generosity. Sunday 15 August 2027 Expected date **\--** days **\--** hours **\--** minutes **\--** seconds [Read the full story](https://testofethiopiarestaurant.com.au/events/mawlid) [Read about Buhe](https://testofethiopiarestaurant.com.au/events/buhe) Cultural ### [Buhe](https://testofethiopiarestaurant.com.au/events/buhe) ቡሄ Buhe brightens the rainy season with children's songs, glowing fires, cracking whips and rounds of fresh mulmul bread. Thursday 19 August 2027 **\--** days **\--** hours **\--** minutes **\--** seconds [Read the full story](https://testofethiopiarestaurant.com.au/events/buhe) [Read about Ashenda](https://testofethiopiarestaurant.com.au/events/ashenda) Cultural ### [Ashenda](https://testofethiopiarestaurant.com.au/events/ashenda) አሸንዳ Ashenda centres girls and young women in days of song, dancing, friendship and intricate traditional dress. 22 Aug 2027 - 24 Aug 2027 **\--** days **\--** hours **\--** minutes **\--** seconds [Read the full story](https://testofethiopiarestaurant.com.au/events/ashenda) [Read about Enkutatash](https://testofethiopiarestaurant.com.au/events/enkutatash) National ### [Enkutatash](https://testofethiopiarestaurant.com.au/events/enkutatash) እንቁጣጣሽ Ethiopian New Year welcomes a fresh season as the long rains end and yellow adey abeba flowers cover the highlands. Sunday 12 September 2027 **\--** days **\--** hours **\--** minutes **\--** seconds [Read the full story](https://testofethiopiarestaurant.com.au/events/enkutatash) [Read about Fichee-Chambalaalla](https://testofethiopiarestaurant.com.au/events/fichee-chambalaalla) Living heritage ### [Fichee-Chambalaalla](https://testofethiopiarestaurant.com.au/events/fichee-chambalaalla) The Sidama New Year renews family ties through greetings, counsel, dancing and the sharing of buurisame. Date announcement pending Set each year by Sidama ayyaantu elders [Read the full story](https://testofethiopiarestaurant.com.au/events/fichee-chambalaalla) ![A richly coloured chicken stew with egg, meat, vegetables and rolled injera.](https://testofethiopiarestaurant.com.au/assets/food/food-04-doro-sharing-overhead.webp) PLAN YOUR OWN GATHERING ## A birthday. A reunion. Just because. Thinking about a group meal in Footscray? Tell us about your occasion, preferred date and party size. [Group gatherings](https://testofethiopiarestaurant.com.au/events/group-gatherings) ## Structured data ```json [ { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://testofethiopiarestaurant.com.au/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Events", "item": "https://testofethiopiarestaurant.com.au/events" } ] } ] ```