Siklet is a very important holiday in Ethiopia, marked by worshipers in the Ethiopian Orthodox Christian community. It is also known as the Ethiopian Good Friday, and it commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and his descent into hell. The observance of this holiday extends to a whole week of religious and celebratory events leading up to Easter Sunday. It takes place in the week before Easter, according to the Ethiopian Orthodox calendar, which is slightly different from the Gregorian calendar widely used by Western countries.
During Siklet, various religious rituals and ceremonies are held. Churches are usually decorated with red, black, and white, symbolizing death, mourning, and the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Congregants partake in prayer, fasting, and hymn singing, with some choosing to visit holy sites and water bodies for ritual baptism. Traditional Ethiopian dishes are prepared, including some that are only made during this religious holiday.
Siklet is not only a time of reflection and solemnity but also one of community and shared experience. Believers gather to show their faith, renew their spiritual commitment, and express their shared belief in the resurrection of Christ. Despite the fasting and somber mood of Good Friday itself, the holiday period culminates in the joyous celebration of Fasika (Easter Sunday), where families come together to feast, break their fast, and to rejoice in the resurrection. Siklet, therefore, holds a significant cultural and religious position in Ethiopia, an event that emphasizes both shared pain and communal joy.