For Hadiya, Yahode Meskela is considered to be the beginning of a new year. It is celebrated by burning the big Demera. Some people associate it with the Orthodox religion, which has a misconception about the Yahode Meskela. It is not a religious holiday. In Hadiya Zone, Yahode Meskela is celebrated by followers of all religion. Yahode Meskela is not only a New Year celebration, but it is also cultural festival for Hadiya community.
Sisay Ewunetu, Head Hadiya Zone Culture, Tourism and Sport Department (HZCTSD) said that his office is striving to promote the Yahode festival’s social, economic and cultural significance, pass it on to the posterity and register it as a world heritage.
Ashenafi Petros Head of Hadiya Zone Administration Yahode Meskela festival is a day of unity, peace, and love that unites families and the local community.
Mokoro Erose Coordinator of Development and Marketing of Tourism Attraction Research at HZCTSD told The Ethiopian Herald that in Yahode Meskela holiday various businesses, marketing, slaughter of animals and other cultural activities are carried out.
In Yahode there is no much argument between the buyer and the seller to swift the exchange. The buyers’ main concern is on getting the goods he/she wants to buy. As a result, the marketing process is so swift that it clearly represents crazy market the name given to it at that very day.
In the Yahode, if the Buyer can’t afford money to buy bull for the day, he/she can take the bull for credit without signature or guarantee. These indicate that how the culture of trust, mindfulness immersed upon the community. And this culture should continue, he noted.
There is a grass called Lenja that marks the arrival of the Yahood festival. In the first week of September, it is a celebration that will be tripled and bound by a pillar in the house. It is the day on which the feast of forgiveness, mercy and intimacy is performed, Mokoro said.
If there are grievances, resentment, quarreling, forgiveness with a clean heart will be carried out before the New Year arrived. And it is the time of begging God for peace and time of unity for the New Year, he noted.
In the Yahode festival the Hadiya community gives respect for their cattle by feeding them special food. These indicate that the Hadiya community livelihood is depending on their cattle. The community explains good will for their cattle saying that; our life is with you as a family. We are living because of you are alive with us. It is also a time they pray for their cattle that they will not have problems.
The Ethiopian Herald September 26, 2019
BY ESSEYE MENGISTE
