Timket’s Unique Spirit and Cultural Wealth Captivate Tourists

Addis Ababa, January 19, 2026 (ENA)— As the colorful Timket (Ethiopian Epiphany) rituals unfolded at Jan Meda in Addis Ababa, tourists praised the celebration as a profound expression of faith and culture.

Marek Dague, a first-time visitor, told the Ethiopian News Agency that witnessing Timket exceeded all his expectations.

"Ethiopian Epiphany is so beautiful, amazing, and interesting," he said.

 

 

Dague called on international media to visit the country and reflect its diversity and heritage.

“More international media need to come and visit Ethiopia and see what a beautiful country it is with beautiful people, all the culture, languages, scenery and history,” he noted, adding that Timket itself deserves global recognition and preservation.

Reflecting on the atmosphere at Jan Meda, he said, “You look around, see what's happening, see the people with their smiles, see how everyone is dressed nice. The passion that they have for their religion is amazing.”

He added that he and his friends traveled across much of northern and eastern Ethiopia and were deeply impressed. “We observed a lot and we were very happy with what we saw,” he said.

On Addis Ababa, Dague described the capital as a beautiful and engaging city, highlighting Merkato, Piazza and Bole.

He said he was interested in everything he observed during his stay.

Another tourist, Sofiane Gabriel, described Timket as “very interesting and unique,” noting a strong sense of spirituality throughout the country.

“Compared to Europe and the rest of the world, people here in Ethiopia are really close to God and close to religion. We can feel this energy everywhere. It's really impressive,” he said.

 

 

Gabriel said his journey took him across several regions.

“We crossed almost half of Ethiopia. We visited Amhara, Tigray, Afar and Oromia. Everywhere we went, it was incredible. People are very hospitable. They talk to us friendly, invite us to coffee and food. So it is unforgettable, a human experience,” he stated.

He emphasized Ethiopia’s cultural preservation.

“Everywhere you go, you can see people with traditional clothes, costumes and people doing ceremonies. The culture is super well preserved and rich,” he said.

 

 

Describing Addis Ababa, Gabriel said the city reflects both calm modernity and hope.

“Addis Ababa is a really calm city, really modern, and it reflects the future of Ethiopia, a bright future. At the same time, it reflects the energy of the people,” he added.

He was particularly struck by the scale of public participation.

“Large people in the street we couldn't ever see in my life. I can feel people have passion when they sing, when they meet, when they eat,” he said.

Jean Baptiste, an associate professor of social anthropology at a university in Paris who frequently visits Ethiopia, said attending Timket in Addis Ababa allowed him to discover a new dimension of the country.

“I knew very well the southern parts of Ethiopia. I stayed in Addis only a few times, so this is my first time attending Timket here,” he said.

He explained that the celebration offered insight into Ethiopian Orthodox life.

“I am discovering the Orthodox Church that lives its life in Addis Ababa and I find it wonderful,” he noted.

Comparing the experience with Europe, Baptiste said, “In France, we mostly have this kind of ceremony inside the churches. Unlike Ethiopia, we lost a bit this practice of doing procession and public ceremony in an open space.”

He added that the celebration offers valuable learning for visitors.

“I am discovering the Orthodox Church and I can compare the same faith with differences from the Catholic Church. That should be part of what tourists could also observe,” he suggested.

Baptiste concluded that Timket leaves a lasting impression.

“The faith of the people is impressive and the visual impression too. It is really crowded with all this white, the umbrellas and everything. That is really impressive,” he said.