Traditions of Addis Ababa
A high-altitude capital where Meskel bonfires, coffee ceremonies and the Ethiopian calendar tell the year.
Addis Ababa, at over 2,300 metres, is the diplomatic capital of Africa and the home of Ethiopian culture in all its variety. Ethiopia uses its own calendar of thirteen months and is seven or eight years behind the Gregorian. New Year, Enkutatash, falls in September, and coffee is a daily ritual.
Meskel and the new year
On Meskel, the Finding of the True Cross, held in September, thousands gather in Meskel Square to watch a tall bonfire, demera, topped with flowers, lit at dusk. Enkutatash, the new year, brings yellow daisies and gifts, and girls sing and dance. Fasting is observed on many days, and there is a feast at the end.
At the table
Doro wat, spicy chicken stew with egg, is the festive dish, eaten with injera from a shared tray, with gursha, feeding another person a bite as a sign of love. Kitfo, minced beef, and tibs are common. Coffee comes in a three-round ceremony with incense and popcorn.
Signature traditions of Addis Ababa
Also part of it, and being written: Doro wat (The chicken stew.), Ethiopian calendar (The thirteen-month calendar.).
A trail idea for Addis Ababa
- Meskel Square Join the September bonfire.
- Mercato A vast market.
- Holy Trinity Cathedral A royal burial church.
Written by the EveryParampara desk with AI assistance. Opening hours, markets and festival dates change; check locally before travelling. Customs differ from place to place and family to family. If this is your tradition and we have it wrong, tell us.
Nothing matches those filters yet. Take one off, or check back: new traditions are written every day.
Photo credits on this page
The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.
- Meskel: DanielGirmaTsige, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Enkutatash: Nati Tad, CC BY-SA 4.0, source