Smoke in Addis – Hedar Mikael
Melkam Mikael – today is a special St. Michaels Day – Hedar Mikael, and today in Addis, looking out to the invisible mountains – shrouded in a smoke from thousands of bonfires you might have thought you were in Lahore or Delhi. Today is the day when householders burn their compound rubbish and with the smoke it is believed that disease and sickness is taken away.
This also marks the harvest time. Across much of the highlands grass is cut in meadows and the harvest of the wheat, barley and teff will be well underway. There are also a number of festivals in different churches: Hanna Mariam was yesterday, and the very important Tsion Mariam comes in just over a weeks
Fasting selection with Ethiopian beer
time.
With harvesting going on in the country this is a wonderful time to visit Ethiopia, and see the countryside. Why not book up a trek staying at the Tesfa community owned guesthouses?
A major fasting season will start this week on Thursday – the Advent fast – Gena Tsom, which will last for 44 days until Ethiopian Christmas on 7 January. Great news for those who love the fasting (vegan food).
