(API) Addis Ababa — Ethiopian Muslims, who constitute around 40 % of the estimated 80 million population, are celebrating their Maulid with various activities, as part of Ethiopia’s Millennium celebrations held last September.
Some Muslims told APA that this year’s Maulid is being celebrated in a colourful mood, which is being observed as part of the Ethiopian Millennium celebrations.
The Ethiopian Muslim holidays, like the rest of world, are based on the lunar calendar and thus fall at different times each year.
The Ethiopian Muslim community were busy on Wednesday buying different things for the celebration of Maulid, which is regarded as a Holy day.
On the day, after praying and listening to the imam (religious leader) preach, Ethiopian Muslims sacrifice animals and distribute part of the meat to the poor.
The Muslims observe the day with their Christian neighbors. Many Muslims invite their Christian neighbors to their homes where they will have Ethiopian traditional food and drinks together.
The Muslims prepare special food, as well as give meat to their Christian neighbors.
“We are celebrating the day with Christian neighbors as we are doing like other holidays. We are happy to celebrate this year’s Millennium Maulid,” Fetya Hassen, an Ethiopian Muslim, who was celebrating the day with her Christian neighbors told APA.
Gifts are presented on the day where many Muslims buy various gifts both for their Muslim friends and other neighbors. Colorful processions are held during this time of celebrations, with dancing, singing, and feasting also being included in the festivities.
This year, the prices sheep and goats are quite high compared to the previous year. Big goats and sheep cost around $50 and $60 while the small one is around $35 and chicken is around $3 and $4.
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FORUM | 8 Comments
When I see Ethiopian Muslims celebrating their holidays with their Ethiopian Christian neighbors and Ethiopian Christians celebrating their holidays with their Ethiopian Muslim neighbors, eating, drinking, dancing, and exchanging gifts, it seems to me that Ethiopian Muslims are the closest friends of the Ethiopian Christians than the Catholics, the Protestants, the Adventists, and the other Christian faiths.
[Reply]
March 20th, 2008 at 6:41 PM
This is from a christian brother to all Ethiopian muslim brothers and sisters.
I WISH YOU A HAPPLY MAULID.
Is this the right way to say it? MAULID MOUBAREK!
[Reply]
March 20th, 2008 at 6:56 PM
Id Mubarek!
We are very good example to the rest of the world about religious tollerance. It should continue that way.
Proud to be part of it!
[Reply]
March 21st, 2008 at 6:21 AM
MAULİD MOUBAREK ALL OF ETHİOPİANS
[Reply]
March 21st, 2008 at 11:40 AM
Thank you Ethiopian Review for reporting Ethiopian Muslim celebration and thank you my Christian brothers and sisters wishing Ethiopian muslims a happy Maulid and wish you a blesed HUDADE and finaly, happy holiday for all Ethiopian Mulims around the world.
[Reply]
March 21st, 2008 at 12:30 PM
Happy and good times to all decent Ethiopians.As a muslim from Ogaden,I would like to state the fact that there are only two muslim holidays.Eid ulfitri and Eid ulad-ha.
[Reply]
March 22nd, 2008 at 12:03 AM
Tolerance, loving, caring and helping/sharing for the needy is the value of muslim.
By the way for your information Ethiopian Muslims, who constitute around 60 % of the estimated 80 million population. It is not 40% as per the ethiopian stastical office assessment made in 2007. I hope you will correct your report.
Thanks
[Reply]
March 22nd, 2008 at 8:51 PM
Happy mawlude to all muslims
[Reply]
March 23rd, 2008 at 4:11 PM