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መወርወር
Lomi Mewerwor · "The Throwing of the Lemon"
Timkat — Ethiopian Epiphany
Every January 19th, thousands of Ethiopians gather in white Shamma robes for a festival of song, prayer, dance, and community — inscribed by UNESCO on the Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2019.
For single Ethiopians, Timkat has always been something more. It falls at the height of wedding season — when the weather is clear, the harvest done, and everyone dressed to impress.
At Timkat, a young man who has found someone he admires may throw a lemon — a lomi — in her direction, aiming for her heart. If she collects it, courtship begins. This tradition, Lomi Mewerwor, is practised across Ethiopia — and it is the soul of every lemon thrown on LemonCatch.
"It's our tradition and I don't think it's practiced anywhere else, so I'm patiently waiting for someone to throw a lemon at me. Our elders used to embrace Timkat dating, but now we have gotten away from it. I think we need to go back to our old ways. You never know — you could find your destiny here."
LemonCatch was built to answer that wish. The tradition is real. The community is global. The lemon is digital. The heart is the same.
Go on your best habesha first date.
LemonCatch is built around the idea that great relationships start in the right context. We remove the noise so you can focus on what matters — actually meeting someone who understands or is interested in your world, your language, your family, and your food. Whether you're in DC, Addis, or anywhere in the diaspora, your people are here.
See how it works →No endless swiping. Just real people.
We replaced the swipe loop with Lomi Mewerwor — the lemon throw. Rooted in Ethiopian tradition, it is a deliberate, meaningful gesture. Not a 2-second judgment. When you throw a lemon, you mean it. When they throw one back, you both know it.
Explore the features →
How throwing a lemon works.
In Ethiopian tradition, Lomi Mewerwor — the throwing of the lemon — is how you say 'I'm interested' without saying a word. We built the whole app around it.
Browse profiles
Discover Ethiopians and people interested in meeting Ethiopians near you and around the world. Every profile shows their name, age, city, origin region, and interests. Filter by city, cultural background, language, and relationship intent. All profiles are verified.
Throw a lemon
See someone who catches your attention? Throw them a lemon — tap the lemon button. It's your digital Lomi Mewerwor: a deliberate, culturally rooted gesture that says 'I'd like to get to know you.' No empty swipes. No algorithmic guesses. Just your choice, aimed at their heart.
When they throw one back — it's a match
If the person you threw a lemon at throws one back at you, you've matched. You'll both be notified. From there, you can start a conversation, send a Juice Bar gift, and begin the journey — just as it has always been done at Timkat.
LemonCatch Suggested Matches
Every Sunday, our team hand-picks a match just for you.
Every Sunday, the LemonCatch team hand-picks a suggested match for you — someone we think could be a genuine connection based on your profile, your city, your background, and what you're looking for. It is our way of bringing the shimagelay tradition into the digital age — a trusted hand, quietly pointing you toward someone worth knowing.
You’ll receive a notification every Sunday morning: “Your LemonCatch match is ready.” If you’re interested, you accept. If they accept too — it’s a match, and your chat opens automatically. If either of you passes, no one is told. No awkwardness. Just possibilities.
Every Sunday
You receive a notification with your hand-picked LemonCatch suggested match for the week.
Both accept
If you accept and they accept — it's a match. If either passes, it stays private. No rejection notifications.
Chat opens
When both accept, the chat opens automatically. Start the conversation. This match was made with intention.
Everything you need. Nothing you don't.
Lemon throw (Lomi Mewerwor)
Show interest the Ethiopian way. Tap to throw a lemon at someone you admire — just as young Ethiopians have done at Timkat for centuries. No swiping. Just intention.
Diaspora discovery
Find Ethiopians in your city and connect with profiles back home in Addis. DC to Addis. Addis to Minneapolis. The diaspora, finally in one place.
Ethiopian cultural filters
Filter by region and preferences. Match on what actually matters.
Verified profiles
Every profile is verified. No fake accounts. No catfishing. The Ethiopian community deserves trust, and we build it in from day one.
Lemon radius
Set your Lemon Radius — how far a lemon can travel. Keep it in your city or open it to the world. Your choice.
Request Unblurring
Photos blur until you're both interested. Spend lemons to unblur when ready.
Real people. Real dates.
"I deleted three other apps last year. LemonCatch was the fourth. Finally one that gets the culture — and got me a date at Dukem on 18th Street."
"Three months in. We've already met each other's families. He threw me a lemon from Addis. I'm in DC. We met six weeks later. I didn't expect that from an app."
"The lemon throw made me laugh on the first notification. That's when I knew this was different. No other app has ever made me feel like this was made for me."
Meet Ethiopians globally.
Free to download. No subscriptions to start. Just real connections. 🍋