Sigd

Origins and memory

Oral accounts date Sigd to several defining moments in Beta Israel history. One tradition recalls a sixth-century reconciliation between Jewish and Christian neighbours under King Gebre Mesqel of Axum. Others trace the holiday to the fifteenth century, when Christian rulers persecuted Jewish communities. During that crisis, priests known as kahənat led their people into secluded wilderness areas. Drawing inspiration from the Book of Nehemiah and Ezra's assembly in ancient Jerusalem, they instituted the day to protect their ancestral faith, known as Haymanot, and to preserve communal solidarity. Written records first document the observance during the fifteenth century.

Rituals and prayer

In Ethiopia, communities marked the holiday by climbing local summits like Hoharoa, Midraro, or Wusta Tsegai, reenacting the revelation of the Torah at Mount Sinai. Worshippers observed a strict daytime fast and recited Psalms as they ascended. At the summit, religious leaders known as kessim recited sections from the Orit, the sacred Octateuch, in the ancient Ge'ez language. The congregation prostrated themselves in humble supplication before God. Once the formal prayers ended, attendees descended the heights, broke their fast together, and celebrated the renewed covenant with music, traditional dance, and shared joy.

Modern observance

Since the immigration of Ethiopian Jews to Israel, Sigd has found a central home in Jerusalem. In 2008, the Israeli parliament established Sigd as an official state holiday, mandating educational programmes and formal state ceremonies. Thousands assemble on high points overlooking the Old City, including the Armon Hanatziv Promenade, to pray alongside their kessim and hear the Orit read aloud. Communities in the diaspora also mark the occasion, such as in New York City, where civic and communal groups hold public gatherings to honour Ethiopian Jewish heritage and identity.

How Sigd is kept

The observance begins with a daytime fast dedicated to reflection, supplication, and communal repentance. Participants gather in large groups, often ascending a prominent hill or scenic promenade facing Jerusalem. Priests, called kessim, lead the congregation by chanting Psalms and reading passages from the Orit. The faithful offer prostrations and prayers for spiritual renewal. In the afternoon, the fast is formally broken, opening the way for lively music, communal dancing, and festive celebration.

When and where

Sigd takes place on the twenty-ninth day of the Hebrew month of Marcheshvan, arriving precisely fifty days after Yom Kippur. In earlier times, the community observed the festival on the twenty-ninth of Kislev, but a mid-nineteenth-century calendar revision established its present timing.

Originating in northern Ethiopia, the festival was historically kept on specific mountain peaks such as Midraro and Hoharoa. Today, its primary gathering occurs in Jerusalem, where thousands convene on city promenades. Celebrations also take place in diaspora hubs such as New York City.

What Sigd means

Sigd embodies the reaffirmation of the covenant between God and the Jewish people, mirroring Ezra's ancient gathering in Jerusalem. Mountain ascents evoke the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai, while the acts of prostration and fasting convey collective repentance, humility, and an enduring devotion to the holy city of Jerusalem.

Days Sigd is marked

Sigd dates: 2026, 2027, 2028

Questions people ask about Sigd

See also

PassoverA Jewish spring festival celebrating freedom from slavery with ritual mealsHoly WeekThe solemn seven days leading to Easter, recalling the final week and Passion of JesusYom KippurThe holiest day in Judaism, dedicated to fasting, prayer and atonementMother's DayA worldwide annual celebration dedicated to mothers, maternal bonds and family care

Good reading and sources

• Sigd on WikipediaEncyclopedia
• More photos on Wikimedia CommonsPhotos and video
• Wikidata recordOpen data

It may contain mistakes. Traditions differ from one family, village and community to the next, and the people who keep them know them best. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-04.