Ethiopia is a unique country that has its own calendar in the world. As per its astronomical dating system, it had 13 months which could entail 5 days and or 6 days within four years variation. This thirteen month is considered the most unique month when people engage in lots of cultural and religious activities. In the northwestern and eastern parts of the country, this month conjures in mind various deeds and circumstances. For evidenced information, Herald was having a precise interview with Mintamir Lingerrh who is a lecturer and researcher at Debre Markos University. She had been conducting various researches on the cultural and religious practices of the people around the mentioned area for the last five years. Here are the basic incidents that have been annually done at Puagumen, the thirteenth month’s terminology.
The cultural activities in this month mainly emanate from the story of Noah which is mentioned in Holy Bible and Holy Quran. Since the universe was characterized by sin and violence, God was planning to show His grievance by destroying the earth with flood. “I will destroy from the earth the people I have created. And with them, the animals, birds, and creeping things” (Genesis 6:5-7). The same warning of God is also found in Holy Quran. “Warn your people before there comes upon them a grievous penalty.” (Holy Quran, 71:1).
As the two Holy books affirmed God found Noah as the only righteous person from other people. Then he gave him a message. Noah was ordered to make an ark. The Holy Bible reads as follows, “I will establish My covenant with you; you will go into the ark with your wife, your sons, and their wives.” (Genesis 6:8-10, 18). Holy Quran also said God’s command as, “Construct the ark within our sight and under our guidance. Then when comes our command, and the fountains of the earth gush forth, take on board pairs of every specious, male and female and your people.” (Holy Quran 23:27). Then Noah builds an ark.
God ordered Noah the following, “Take with you seven pairs of all clean animals, the male and his mate, and a pair of animals …seven pair of birds male and female to keep their offspring alive on the face of all the earth.” (Genesis 7: 2-3, ESV). Then Noah took his family and representative animals with their mate from every species into the ark since the earth was covered by flood.
The water flooded the earth for one hundred and fifty days. Then God remembered Noah and the animals on the ark. The water moves away and the ark came to rest on the mountain of Ararat. Then Noah sent a dove to check the earth. But the dove was not finding a place for rest. This means the flood was still there. After seven days Noah sent the dove again. At this time, it came back with a dry leaf. He sees that the earth is dry.
In Puagumen, which is the bridge from the rainy season to the brighter dry season, the practices are logically interrelated with this gist. As Mintamir said it, since the first day of Puagumen till the New Year, girls who are not more than 15 years of age start to collect the type grass called wheat grass locally known as ‘Engicha’. This grass is different from other types since it didn’t bloom. It is cut before flowering. As the scholar said, this is a symbol that signifies the virginity of the girls. Again, this grass is the symbol that recalls the dry leaf of the dove that was brought to Noah to indicate the end of the flood and the arrival of the brightest future. The summer season, the cloudy and darkest times are going to end and the dry season, the lighter age, hopeful times are going to happen. It echoes the seasonal change and human beings’ good fortunes.
As Mintamir said it based on her study on the issue, the girls are symbols of the dove. The dove is naturally peaceful, soft, attractive, and blessed. Thus likewise virgin girls resemble the nature of the bird. Thus the symbol recalls the story of Noah.
Girls collect this grass for five or six days, and they tie them together and put flowers on each tie. Then in the early morning of the New Year, they distribute it to everybody saying that “Happy New Year, Enkutatash.” The cultural reward that is expected from the receivers of this tided grass is heartfelt gratitude by elders. But these things are changed to money.
On the other hand boys draw pictures that show the happiest future and give it to the nearby people saying, “Happy New Year.” This was done by every religious follower since the story is commonly told in the Holy books. Ato Hamid who is a lecturer at Addis Ababa University Building Campus confirmed that these practices have been done with every boy and girl though there seems a bit variation in the magnitude.
In other areas like Addis Ababa, it is young boys who draw a pleasing picture and send welcoming wishes to people. The usual returns from receivers are money. Girls in this city form a group which could be made by their interrelationship. Then they took a drum with them and run to people by singing and dancing melodies songs that are about the New Year. The gift for them is also money. The usual song is called “Ababa Ayehosh…Lemlem.”
The other basic practice that characterizes the month is baptism. Mintamir said that, in the culture and religion of the people in the area, it is believed that during Puagumen, the seven skies are going to be open for dropping blessed water that could avoid the body dirt and the soul dirt that is the sin of human beings. Thus, two very common things are done in the days of the month.
The first thing is everyone should wash all the clothes even the clean ones. This is done because the water in these days of the month is believed as a holy water. Thus, for becoming clean from dirt that did also mean any type of disease, mental disorder, or any spiritual unrest is going to cure after washing all the clothes. Thus, girls are going to rivers and wash clothes massively.
The second dominant event which is well celebrated in almost all parts of the country is baptism. Since the first day of the month all members of the family are expected to get baptized in the early morning. The implication is primarily to find the forgiveness of God since the water is a blessed one. It is also believed that the sins of human beings are going to be canceled with this baptism. As it is mentioned above, the reason of Gods penalty is the wrong deeds of the people. Thus for representing these people and to show a regret on those sins, people head to the streams for finding the mercy of God.
The second thing is the practice is believed to free the people from all the worsening tragedies faced in the passing year and to get a fresh body and mind for the coming New Year.
Thirdly, it is the moment for the people to pray for God to bless the coming year and to get washed of all the bad things of the last year. Thus, it is a transitional time from bad to good time. The hopes and all the good wells are promised in front of God with this baptism.
The thirteen months of Ethiopia are culturally and religiously perceived as the month of a bridge that transcends to a better life and good destiny. Thus, this culture and belief is very relevant and is an opportunity to build necessary values and perceptions to be equally charming for human beings across the country, the continent and the universe too. Ethiopia has deep and unique cultural practices that others can learn from.
Happy New Year.
BY MEKDES TAYE (PhD)
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD WEDNESDAY 11 SEPTEMBER 2024
