Ethiopian Good Friday (Siklet)

Ethiopian Good Friday, known as Siklet in Amharic, marks the crucifixion of Jesus Christ according to Christian Orthodox traditions. The day falls on a different date each year because the Ethiopian Orthodox Church follows the Julian calendar, which often results in a different observance period compared to the Gregorian calendar used in the West.

History and Traditions

Ethiopian Good Friday is deeply rooted in Christian traditions dating back to early Christianity. Ethiopia is one of the oldest Christian nations, and its observances are rich with ancient liturgical rites. The holiday is a part of the Holy Week (ስምካት), leading up to Easter Sunday (Fasika).

On this day, Ethiopians engage in various religious activities:

• Fasting: Devout followers observe a strict fast, which begins on Thursday night and continues until Saturday.
• Church Services: People attend long and solemn church services that often last several hours. Churches are draped in black to symbolize mourning.
• Prostrations: Worshippers perform many prostrations as a sign of penitence and worship.
• Reading of Passion Gospels: There's an emphasis on reading from the Gospels that describe Christ's crucifixion.
• Processions: In some places, there may be processions or reenactments of Christ's journey to Golgotha.

What People Do

On Ethiopian Good Friday, people typically:

• Spend much of their day at church engaging in prayer and contemplation.
• Refrain from eating until late afternoon or evening when they might have a light meal.
• Abstain from all forms of entertainment and leisure as a form of respect for the solemnity of the day.

The observance culminates with Easter Sunday when fasting ends with joyous celebrations and feasting.