The New Year day is celebrated by everyone across the nation, without difference in religion or socio economy. It is a feast accompanied by serving food and drinks.
What makes the New Year day is it is launched with the eating of crest flavored snack. On 1 September morning, which is the first of the year many families start the day by eating a small amount from this snack. Eating Fetto is an Ethiopian New Year Morning tradition. Garden cress (Feto) is consumed by everyone in the home on an empty stomach. It is combined with some ingredients like Lemon/lime juice, water and optionally some pieces of salt and garlic.
Along with the health advantages, eating garden cress on an empty stomach symbolizes two things. The first one, regardless of place, ethnicity, educational status, religion, and so on, garden cress is recognized as an indigenous, herbal medicine. It is widely experienced in Ethiopia and plays an imperative role in the healthcare systems of the country. In many instances, people have acknowledged the value of Fetto and have taken various measures to integrate it into their healthcare systems.
More importantly, after the ghetto meal is prepared, the family members abstain from any other food for a few hours. Eating feto helps get rid of the waste and unnecessary things that are accumulated in the abdominal organ. It is believed that eating feto on the first day of the New Year helps to avoid and recover from diseases throughout the year.
Therefore, Fetto/ garden cress is accepted as an herbal or indigenous medicine and it is widely used as an essential healthcare infrastructure. Furthermore, Fetto/garden cress has various health benefits. As a result, it is a plant that is frequently grown in Ethiopia. Because of its high nutritional value, it is frequently eaten as a leafy vegetable or as a spice in many cuisines. Garden cress is a well-liked option for promoting health because it is high in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Besides, it is frequently used to increase the flavor and nutritional value of salads, soups, stews, and sauces. Since they have a milder flavor than mature leaves, the plant’s leaves are normally collected when they are young and fragile.
The other representation of eating Fetto/ garden cress is to put on the spirit of hard work, forgiveness, and service to avoid things that disturb the peace of mind. As anyone who eats Fetto/ garden cress, cleans his or her body especially, its stomach from parasites, she or he should also clean his/or her mind from evil or negative thoughts. Hence, it is believed that the garden cress helps the person to banish negative energy and welcome the New Year with positive energy.
It is also culturally significant to eat garden cress on New Year’s Day in Ethiopia. Garden cress consumption around this period is thought to bring luck and wealth for the upcoming year. The idea of celebrating the start of a new year is in line with the idea that garden cress represents fresh starts and rejuvenation. Garden cress is also loaded with nutrients, so eating it could be a good way to start the year off well.
Garden cress is currently grown on a limited scale in many nations, particularly in India, Pakistan, Europe, and the majority of African nations due to its tolerance of various temperate zones. Garden cress can, however, be grown all year long in many climates and elevations, but damp loam soil is best for its high yield. Garden cress has many uses, and the leaves, seeds, and roots are just a few examples. The plant’s roots are used as a condiment, the raw leaves are used to make a salad and can be cooked with other vegetables, and the dried leaves are used to treat a variety of illnesses and disorders including inflammation, bronchitis, rheumatism, and muscle discomfort, and they are also used as a diuretic.
Hence, garden cress is prized for its therapeutic benefits in addition to its culinary applications. It is thought to provide several health advantages, such as enhancing immunity, stimulating hair growth, and enhancing digestion. Garden cress is frequently prescribed in conventional medicine as an herbal treatment for conditions like coughs, colds, and stomach issues. Overall, garden cress is very important to Ethiopian culture and diet. Its cultivation and use aid in the preservation of conventional medical procedures as well as food security and nutritional diversity.
Therefore, eating Fetto/garden cress is an Ethiopian New Year Morning tradition that symbolizes the cleansing of both the mind and the body. It is believed that eating feto at the beginning of the New Year helps to avoid and recover from diseases throughout the year. Besides, in the New Year, it is necessary not only to maintain the health of the stomach but also to put on the spirit of hard work, forgiveness, and service to avoid things that disturb the peace of mind.
Editor’s Note: The views entertained in this article do not necessarily reflect the stance of The Ethiopian Herald
BY EPHREM ANDARGACHEW
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD THURSDAY 12 SEPTEMBER 2024
