Sigd

Culture of origin: Jewish · Cultural

Holiday sources: Israel · Judaism

Sigd, "prostration" in Ge'ez, is the festival of the Beta Israel, the Jews of Ethiopia, held fifty days after Yom Kippur. It celebrates the renewal of the covenant between God, the people of Israel and the Torah. In Ethiopia the community climbed a mountain, fasted and prayed, and read from the Orit, its scripture; the day ends with a festive meal. Today thousands gather at the Armon HaNatziv promenade overlooking Jerusalem, and since 2008 it has been an Israeli state holiday.