Hospitality
- Ethiopians are known across the globe for their remarkable hospitality and appreciate entertaining visitors in their homes.
- Ethiopians like to smile, and project happiness and welcoming spirit.
- A visitor will always be welcomed with a big smile by the host followed by a cup of coffee.
- It is viewed as impolite to decline the offer.
- Foreigners are normally referred to as farenji meaning a foreigner and refer to themselves as habesha meaning Ethiopian. Most people here are always willing to help out in case one needs help.
Greetings
- Greetings hold an important place in the Ethiopian culture consisting of handshakes as shoulders touch each other followed by a direct eye-contact.
- It is common to see women who have a close relationship kissing each other on the cheeks three times or even more.
- In the presence of elders, it is customary that they be greeted first by bowing.
Religion
- People here value their religious beliefs and practices in accordance with the Orthodox Christian teachings and Islamic culture taking the lead with the largest population.
- Religion in Ethiopia has a greater influence on its people with half the population adhering to Ethiopian Orthodox church teachings.
- The other half consists of Muslims and those who follow Judaism forms.
- Wednesdays and Fridays are considered as fasting days by Ethiopian Orthodox followers. The fasting includes no touch on animal and dairy products such as milk, meat and eggs.
- Expect to see most people wearing small crosses around their necks that act as religious symbols.
- Friday at noon, most Muslims go to Friday prayer in almost all towns in the country.
