Easter is one of the overarching religious holidays colorfully celebrated in our country after two-month long fasting and soul searching. It is a time of repentance and forgiveness.
The religious ceremonial events that punctuate Lent–Hosanna, Good Friday– and which showcase Christ was walking his talk lend color to the fasting seasons’ culmination with Easter feasts.
Along with Easter comes a time of breaking a fast characterized by abstinence from nutritious animal products. It is a time of merrymaking.
As such all the Christian faithful from varying societal layers brace up to throw a grand feast. Some in groups buy oxen to share the meat among themselves, while others buy dairy and poultry products, sheep and the like.
As such, hustle and bustle used to characterize the event in market squares where bargaining takes place among trade persons and clients engaged in the transaction of holiday consumption goods. It was not uncommon to see people and vehicles making movements to and fro. On the eve bars used to over brim with celebrants.
In the nook and crannies across the nation, making circles devouring delicious dishes topped by Doro Wot(a special chicken soup made of red pepper) and boozing with neighbors and relatives was the trend.
Previously, this vibe was taken as one of the hues that accentuate the holiday anniversary.
But at this moment in time when COVID-19 turned out a pandemic the aforementioned holiday vibe could not be there as the tragic episode has eclipsed it with a specter of possible death. People are stripped of the liberty of socializing oblivious to physical distance and keeping not in mind sanitizing items. They are told to downsize the number of guests.
Exercising must-do precautionary measures such as maintaining the necessary physical distance, sanitizing or washing hands time and again must not retreat to the back of citizens’ mind.
Against this backdrop, strictly observing the prevention methods put in black and white to assuage the tension created by the pandemic and forestall its brunt are mandatory. Citizens have to double check their social distance and what their hands touch. Businesspersons and clients are obliged to double-check the one meter gap among themselves. As much as possible putting on face masks and sanitizing or abolition of hands with soaps must be made a point to ensure healthfulness after the anniversary. Tarrying in a market squares or supermarkets could make people more vulnerable to the virus. Here it is important to note that contracting the insidious virus both clients and business persons could take it to their respective homes. This way, it is not hard to imagine how the virus could spread fast as some of the business persons engaged in animal farming come to towns from different corners of the country. In this fashion, if farmers become subjects to the clutch grip of the virus the outcome will be disastrous as the country’s economy heavily leans on agriculture.
The precautionary measures the observance of which the government and health professionals reiterates have quiet significance in preempting the consequences.
Carrying the aforementioned citizens’ safeguarding mission, we have to abide by the must-observe rules and regulations the government and pertinent bodies issue.
Love your siblings as yourself and s/he who has two coats must give the extra to s/he who has none is the preaching of the crucified lover of mankind
Hence, when we mark Easter we must be mindful of extending a helping hand to the have nots. and casual workers stranded at home unable to win their daily bread as usual, street children, employees in the lower income bracket with little or no savings.
Exactly it is this word of advice religious and political leaders try to hammer home with a trendsetter move. Let us follow suit. Let us walk our talk.
The Ethiopian Herald April 19/ 2020
