Fasika

This coming week is the week that lent begins. I have never practiced lent, being from an Evangelical Free Church background. However, I have always appreciated this time of cleansing and focusing on God rather than the things of the world in preparation for Easter. I have been studying Ethiopian customs and holidays lately and have been impressed by their version of lent.

Ethiopia is predominately a christian nation. More specifically: Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church. Tewahedo faith focuses on the story of Abraham and Isaac. Abraham was going to obey God and sacrifice his own son and the Lord sent a lamb for the sacrifice instead. They believe this was a foreshadowing or prophecy of God sending His son to die for our sins. Tewahedo faith depends on the death and Resurrection of Jesus for salvation, and therefore Fasika (Easter) is the most important holiday of the year for the Ethiopian people.

Typically the period of lent for the Tewahedo Church is 56 days before Easter. Rather than just giving up something for lent, they fast for those 56 days. At first I couldn't believe this, but I discovered that fasting for the Ethiopian people meant that they only eat one meal a day and don't eat any animal products for this entire time (including milk, butter, eggs etc.). OK, so they aren't going without food for 56 days, but that is still a huge sacrifice (I need my 3 meals and my meat!). So Fasika (Easter Sunday) becomes a huge time of feasting and celebration of what Jesus did for us that first Easter weekend.

Ethiopians fast prior to most of their large holidays. 40 days before Christmas, and 56 days before Easter. I know I hardly ever think about fasting, and when I do, it's maybe for a day. Perhaps we have something to learn from our Ethiopian brothers and sisters. Something to think about this Easter or Fasika season!