By its very nature, a human creature or being would like to thank whom they appreciate and give priority to help them be people of their wish, and are given expected or unexpected in life. Yes, a lot of things can be mentioned along this line as things can be fulfilled as pet peoples’ aspirations and needs. The majority of the people of the world also love the idea of being thankful, but they think giving thanks should happen only once a year.
One of the Bible’s prominent leaders, Paul, started thanking his readers for their faith saying, “We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you.” He knew that giving thanks is crucial for four main reasons namely God wants it, everything is from God, lack of thanksgiving keeps us from moving forward, and giving thanks changes people’s perspectives. The art of thanksgiving is consistent, steadfast, genuine, year-round thankfulness in all things, for it is determinedly good.
Having said all this, this writer would like to plug esteemed readers to the grand thanksgiving festival annually held in Ethiopia, peculiarly in Oromia state of Ethiopia by the people of Oromo, not limited to, in fact. The festival is really tantamount to what has been cited from the outset. While certain cultural traditions and customs are emblematic of the Ethiopian national and cultural identity, individual practices differ between regions, religions, ethnic sects and tribal segments. Ethiopia houses over 80 different ethnic groups whose ancestries vary, with some tracing back to centuries back ancestors.
Historically, each ethnic group has been divided into tribes and sub-tribes on the basis of people’s descent from common ancestors.
Each ethnic group has distinct cultural practices and speaks a language specific to their ethnicity.
There is a general expectation that an Ethiopian living overseas will eventually want to return or stay connected to their country regardless of improved living circumstances elsewhere as their culture is incomparable. Ethiopians also share a deep pride in the country’s legacy and what it symbolizes as a historically independent African nation.
It is important to appreciate the legacy and depth of Ethiopian culture in order to understand how Ethiopians see themselves in the contemporary setting. There is a very strong community focus embedded in Ethiopian culture. People are often mutually reliant on their relatives and neighbors.
Ethiopians have had a number of religious and cultural holidays which have an immense contribution to tourism promotion apart from their local religious and cultural essence. True, since time immemorial, Ethiopians have been commemorating such appealing festivals and the trend has been transcended from generation to generation, and still persists well.
Cognizant of the fact that Ethiopians’ festivals have helped draw important lessons about culture, norms and traditions of the local community and serve as a means for the refreshment of body and mind, visitors from all over the world have time and again come to visit this mesmerizing nation and take what they would live to have for their knowledge and mind. True, a range of holydays be they are directly related to religion, culture of the societal values of the community like Meskel, Fiche-Chmbelala, Shadey/Solel/Ashenda and Irreechaa, have been known for, especially these days, their being tourism magnet other locally entertained scenarios being the same.
One of the huge rituals among the majority of remembered annually, especially the latter, Irreechaa, has had an enduring history tied with Ethiopians especially with the Oromo people. This mammoth festival is of paramount importance in attracting tourists or visitors from all over the world beyond its cultural and societal essence locally. It is also of significantly useful in helping people establish firm tie as it is a means by which people can be known/ introduced one another and helps people establish firm attachment among/between each other/one another.
It is also well recognized that Irreechaa is a thanksgiving holiday celebrated at the end of the winter predominantly in Oromia state of Ethiopia and the Oromo people celebrate it to thank God (Waaqa) for the blessings and mercies they have received throughout the previous year. The carnival is celebrated every year at the beginning of spring, new season after the dark and rainy winter season. It is attended by hundreds of thousands people and celebrated at sacred lakes across the Oromia state of Ethiopia like the Hora Finfinne, Addis Ababa and Hora Harsadi, Bishoftu, and across Oromia state as a whole, too. Once at the lake, festival-goers immerse freshly cut green grass and the flowers they are carrying and sprinkle themselves and place in water.
Many people interpreted the Irreechaa festival of the Oromo people as a festival of difficulty period between the month of June and September. However, it is the festival of welcoming the expected seeds and fruits of prosperity and peace in the times to come.
The Oromo people also consider the winter rainy season of June to September as a time of difficulty for communications, with families, friends due to heavy rain which could cause swelling rivers and floods that may drown people, cattle, crop, and flood homes. Furthermore, it is highly believed among the Oromo community that family relationships will suffer during winter rain as they cannot visit each other because of swelling rivers and the difficulty of passages following the rainy, foggy and muddy circumstances. In addition, it is presumed that the winter (Kiremt) time could be a time of hunger for some because the previous harvest collected in January is running short and the new harvest is not ripe yet.
Because of this and other related justifications, the Oromo people see winter as a difficult season. It does not mean the Oromo people hate rain or the winter season at all. Even when there is a shortage of rain, they pray to God for rain.
Not only is the Irreechaa festival celebrated to thank God but it is also marked to welcome the new season of plentiful harvests after the dark and rainy winter season associated with nature and creatures. At Irreechaa festivals, friends, family, and relatives gather together and celebrate with joy and happiness. It brings people closer to each other and makes social bonds well firm thereby confidently consolidating social cohesion.
Moreover, this auspicious day that commemorates the passing of the dark time of starvation and hunger and the welcoming of the bright time for growth and prosperity, has been well remembered all the time as a Thanksgiving instant.
Cultural or other related sacred beliefs have been a vital aspect of human existence as human being has always been in search for purpose and meaning, and thus, has birthed many different beliefs with their unique way of festival celebrations.
This distinct thanksgiving celebration in the Oromo tradition is, by itself, means ‘green and fresh grass’ that symbolize fertility and flourishing life due to the bless and guidance of the Creator, God. On this day (normally falls at the end of September or beginning of October), many people of Oromo come to the river or mountains with an outlet that has since long been chosen to be the place for such thanksgiving merriment. In the traditional religion of the Oromos, the spirit is the power through which The Almighty God governs all over the world. Thus, people of Oromo believe that every creation of God has its own spirit.
Most of the time, the Oromo people believe that this spirit, through which Waqaa is supposed to govern all over its creature, which wallows over the sea and the great rivers of our world. Besides, they do believe that the peak of the mountain is holly in nature, and that it serves as a host to the spirit of God.
As stated earlier, the Oromo people usually go to the river or to the mountain during the time of their worshiping rituals, or during Irreechaa celebration. The fundamental reason the Oromo people celebrate Irreechaa to thank God for the blessings and mercies they have received throughout the year before. The thanksgiving is celebrated at the sacred grounds of lakes, and the Irreechaa festival is celebrated every year at the beginning of the sunny new season, and is celebrated throughout Oromia and around the world where Diaspora Oromos live especially North America and Europe.
They believe that the heavy rain brings lots of things like swelling rivers and floods that may drown people, cattle, crop, and flood homes. Furthermore, family relationship will severe during winter rain as they can’t visit each other because of the overflow of rivers. In addition, winter time could be a time of starvation for some because of the fact that previous harvest collected in January is running short and new harvest is not ripe yet. Because of this, some families may endure food shortages during the winter.
It is also well recognized that Irreechaa festivals bring people closer to each other and make social bonds. During this ritual, almost all the worshipers carry green grass and flowers to commemorate the event. Green grass is always regarded as an integral part of the ceremony, which is a sign of fertility and productivity, in Oromo tradition.
Along with the celebration, cultural exhibitions take place. Indeed, various cultural displays, including traditional clothing, crafts, and food, are showcased, allowing participants to immerse themselves in Oromo heritage.
On the occasion, speeches are aired and prayers are performed. Community Abba Gadas, Hadhasiinqees and elders address the gathering, sharing messages of peace, unity, and the importance of preserving Oromo culture. Prayers for a prosperous year ahead are also common.
As far as the procession of the ritual is concerned, upon reaching the lake, worshipers perform various rituals, such as immersing the green grass and the flowers they are carrying in the lake and sprinkling themselves as well as others around them. Though the day is a thanksgiving holiday of the Oromo people in Ethiopia, many others out the specific nation, have accompanied their brothers and sisters in due course of celebrating the festival with a view to sharing the bounties their brothers and sisters have been granted.
BY MENGESHA AMARE
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD SATURDAY 5 OCTOBER 2024
