Nobody denies the fact that Epiphany (Timket) is celebrated once a year colorfully all over the country by the faithful to commemorate the baptism of Jesus Christ in the Jordan River, by John the Baptist.The celebration of Epiphany (Timket) which has a religious, historical and cultural bases starts with the ceremony of “Ketera”, the eve of the festivity.
In the course of the religious rituals of Timket, quite a lot of attention-grabbing activities come to pass in the left, right and center of the country in the midst of the faithful in the open street. Each year, and ahead of the festivity ,tents are set up by the laity for the “Tabot” (replica of the Ark of the Covenant). More to the point, deacons and priests pass the night there providing church services.
During Epiphany (Timket), all the faithful adorn themselves head to foot with eye-catching traditional clothes with a view to adding color to the festivity.For the sake of truth, all the faithful leave no stone unturned to make the celebration attention-grabbing and second-to-none.
The replica of Ark of the Covenant is escorted by archbishops, heads of churches, clergies, priests, deacons, monks, and whatnot. Most of them carry umbrellas decorated with gold embroideries consisting of a wide spectrum of attention-grabbing colors. Deacons also carry the processional crosses, small ringing bells, cestrum, prayer sticks, drums, and whatnot.
When the ‘Tabots’ from every parish get together, all the faithful embark on ululating, singing spiritual songs and dancing. When the replica of Ark of the Covenant arrive at the places where the celebrations take place, prayer, gospel preaching, spiritual songs and other related aspects set in motion in next to no time. What is more, priests, deacons and some of the laities pass the night there.
Nowadays, as millions of Ethiopians live all over the world, they celebrate Epiphany (Timket) in various pleasant ways in their respective countries. No matter what happens, they do not want to distance themselves from the Timket celebration. Nothing makes the Ethiopian community happier than partaking in the celebration which happens in their respective countries.
Mulu Tesfaye lives in Toronto. She is on familiar terms with the nuts and bolts of the Timket celebration there. According to her, there are five Ethiopian orthodox churches all over Toronto. Each church celebrates Timket colorfully in their respective areas. But as of next year, all the churches will celebrate the festivity in one big hall. This year, we were able to celebrate the festivity beautifully in isolation.She elucidated that the celebration started at St. Arsema and the next day it was celebrated at Toronto Medhanalem Church. Last Monday, it was celebrated at Kidane Mihert church and last Tuesday at St.Michael church. The last one which culminates the celebration will be held next Sunday January 26 at St. Mariam Cathedral.
She stressed that around 4-5 thousand people are expected to attend the festivity at St. Mariam cathedral. This church also attracts people of different races. The church has a Filipino priest and deacon. During the celebration, everyone comes with all and Sunday adorning themselves head to foot with attention-grabbing Ethiopian traditional clothes. Outside the church at Betselam, members of the church bring Ethiopian Traditional foods including Tela and Tej.
As per The Los Angeles Times of Kate Linthicum,the Timket celebration is the largest in the United States. It comes about over a January weekend each year in a parking lot outside the Forum in Inglewood. The Ethiopian communities flock from across the country and Canada with the purpose of receiving blessings from church bishops who wear elaborate beaded cloaks and full graybeards. The festivity takes place in attention-grabbing ways.
Eden Tamiru has been living in Canada since 1995. She is on familiar terms with the nuts and bolts of the Timket celebration there. She does not miss the celebration year after year. She is looking forward to celebrating the day over and over again.
She said, “During the Timket celebration, more than a few things flash through my mind. I would say, a feeling that I cannot express in words pinches me in the corner of my heart. Tears simply keep on rolling down over my cheeks uncontrollably. Above and beyond, my motherland and my parents come in my mind’s eye over and over again.”
Though I come across a lot of Ethiopians during the celebration, I cannot stop worrying too much about my country and parents. As a matter of fact, when I come across my compatriots, I feel as if a huge weight is off my body at the stroke of a pen. More often than not, whenever we get together, we plot various techniques to celebrate the Timket festivity beautifully and happily. The thing which makes the celebration is the fact that quite a lot of foreigners partake in the celebration.
The Ethiopian Herald Friday 24 January 2020
BY ADDISALEM MULAT
