The Ge'ez calendar
Feasts & fasts
Today
Nehase 11, 2018
Monday, August 17, 2026
A 15-day fast leading up to the feast of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary.
Coming up
Filseta (Assumption of the Virgin Mary)
Commemorates the Assumption of the Virgin Mary.
Aug 22 (Nehase 16, 2018)
Enkutatash (New Year)
The Ethiopian/Eritrean new year.
Sep 11 (Meskerem 1, 2019)
Meskel (Finding of the True Cross)
Commemorates the finding of the True Cross by Empress Helena, marked with the Demera bonfire the evening before.
Sep 27 (Meskerem 17, 2019)
Tsome Nebiyat (Fast of the Prophets)
A 43-day fast of preparation leading up to Ledet.
Nov 24 – Jan 6 (Hidar 15 – Tahsas 28, 2019)
Ledet (Christmas)
The Nativity of Christ.
Jan 7 (Tahsas 29, 2019)
Timkat (Epiphany)
Commemorates the Baptism of Christ in the Jordan, marked with the Ketera eve the day before.
Jan 19 (Tir 11, 2019)
This year's full calendar
FeastEnkutatash (New Year)
The Ethiopian/Eritrean new year.
Sep 11
FeastMeskel (Finding of the True Cross)
Commemorates the finding of the True Cross by Empress Helena, marked with the Demera bonfire the evening before.
Sep 27
FastTsome Nebiyat (Fast of the Prophets)
A 43-day fast of preparation leading up to Ledet.
Nov 24 – Jan 6
FeastLedet (Christmas)
The Nativity of Christ.
Jan 7
FeastTimkat (Epiphany)
Commemorates the Baptism of Christ in the Jordan, marked with the Ketera eve the day before.
Jan 19
FastAbiy Tsom (Great Lent)
The 55-day Great Fast leading up to Holy Week.
Feb 16 – Apr 4
FastHosanna (Palm Sunday)
The start of Holy Week, commemorating Christ's entry into Jerusalem.
Apr 5
FastTselote Hamus (Maundy Thursday)
Commemorates the Last Supper.
Apr 9
FastSiklet (Good Friday)
Commemorates the Crucifixion — the most solemn day of the year.
Apr 10
FeastFasika (Easter)
The Resurrection of Christ — the greatest feast of the year.
Apr 12
FeastErget (Ascension)
The Ascension of Christ into heaven, 40 days after Fasika.
May 21
FeastParaclete (Pentecost)
The descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles, 50 days after Fasika.
May 31
FastTsome Hawaryat (Fast of the Apostles)
Begins the day after Pentecost and ends on the feast of the Apostles Peter and Paul.
Jun 1 – Jul 12
FastTsome Filseta (Fast of the Virgin Mary)
A 15-day fast leading up to the feast of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary.
Aug 7 – Aug 21
FeastFilseta (Assumption of the Virgin Mary)
Commemorates the Assumption of the Virgin Mary.
Aug 22
Every day has a saint
Saints of the month
In the Ethiopian and Eritrean Orthodox Tewahdo tradition, each of the thirty days of the month is set apart in memory of a particular saint. A few of these days — marked below — are kept as Annual Feasts, when the Tabot is carried in procession and the faithful gather in especially large numbers to honor that saint. Many mark the day by lighting a candle in the saint's memory.
Today (Nehase 11) is dedicated to Hannah we Iyachem (Kidist Dingle Mariam's parents).
Lideta Mariam
Kidus Thaddeus
Ba'eta Mariam
Yohannis Wolde Negedguad
Abune Gebre Menfes Kidus and Petros we Paulos
Kidist Arsema
Kidist Selassie
Kidus Kiros and Abba Banuda
Kidus Thomas
Kidus Meskel
Hannah we Iyachem (Kidist Dingle Mariam's parents)
TodayKidus Michael
Kidus Ruphael
Abune Aregawi and Gebre Chistos
Kidus Kirkos and Iyalota
Kidist Kidanemihret
Kidus Estifanos and Abba Gerima
Kidus Ewastateos
Kidus Gebriel
Kidist Hnstata and Kidus Dawit
Kidist Dingle Mariam
Kidus Urael
Kidus Giorgis
Abune Teklehaimanot and the 24 Heavenly Priests
Kidus Merkorios
Abune HabteMariam and Kidus Yosef
Kidus Medhanialem
Kidus Emmanuel
Bale Wolde
Abune Zena Markos
Pagume, the short thirteenth month, has only 5 or 6 days and isn't included above.
Dates are computed automatically from the Ge'ez calendar (in Ethiopia's own timezone) and the Orthodox Easter reckoning for Fasika. We've done our best to get these right — if any date looks off, please let us know.