Anteneh Alemayehu, a resident in Addis Ababa, has been waiting for the day of his wedding for the last five years. He and his bride planned to marry her this year in March, 2020. They spent together in relationship thinking their future life and to live together through marriage.
As they stay in relationship for years they decided to marry each other. They already allocated budget for the wedding by spending lot from what they have. The two couples finished their preparation earlier wedding card is prepared and waiting for invitation. At the same time families and relatives are also eager for the wedding to attend the ceremony. They are eager for their upcoming wedding.
Unfortunately due to the outbreak of the coronavirus across the world different countries across the globe including Ethiopia have passed decision that prohibit large gathering. This is bad news for him and his soul mate as it interrupted their upcoming wedding. There is no way other than conforming to what the government has passed.
He did a lot to realize his ambition. There are many attendees which they are expected to invite for the ceremony. They cancelled their wedding program which they are wishing for long time because time is not allowed them, due to the virus. In line with the wedding different traditional ceremonies are also expected to hold. Even though the wedding ceremony is cancelled their wish to live together at one home is not cancelled. They are at the eve of the day to hold their marriage with the absence of the attendees.
He said that “for sure I and my lover prepared the ceremony to make ourselves happy and at the same time our family and relative as well. The ceremony is prepared not for the luxury life we have. This is best chance to save our expense using allocated budget for other purpose”. “We did our best but the incident did not allow us to do what we wish, and no one will complain”
“You think lot about it when you plan your big day. The virus halts different public ceremony but it will not stop us from marrying each other, says Helina Worku another bride, who was planning to get married soon. We will hold our marriage by stopping public gathering by stopping the festive ceremony and dance. We did a lot for our wedding and the virus interrupted us suddenly. Everything will be done through the will of God and we will hold all festive ceremonies waiting for good days after the virus disappeared. Saving life is prior thing, she added.
The season that follows the two months long lent in Ethiopia is usually a favorite season of feast especially wedding ceremonies. But this year’s wedding season is feared to be ruined by the alarming spread of COVID-19.
As a result of the global coronavirus pandemic, couples all over the world have to make a very difficult, and often heartbreaking, decision to cancel, postpone, or adjust their best laid wedding plans. The recent outbreak of corona virus global pandemic interrupting different tournaments, ceremonies, and other social activates across the world. Wedding is among and one of the primary social activity which is interrupted by the pandemic. There are so many couples across the world which is waiting for their wedding ceremony for years.
As the coronavirus pandemic radically alters every section of the global activities and forces billions of people around the world to change their daily routines, many are also being forced to make agonizing decisions about upcoming celebrations and major life events, including weddings.
Addis Ababa City Administration Vital Event Registration Agency Information Desk Director Melak Mekonen said that the outbreak of the coronavirus affected many things. Following the virus marriage registration in the city administration is reduced. In each woreda one or two marriage registration will be hold by average. Comparing to the last year at the same time minimum seven marriage registration was held daily, Melak says.
The two couples signed their registration certificate through fingerprint and this will escalate the spread of the virus. At the same time government banned large gathering and wedding ceremony is held by gathering large group of people at one compound, which contributed for the lowest marriage. To minimize the spread of the virus the agency providing service by changing fingerprint to manual through its branches across the city, he indicated.
The Ethiopian Herald April 25/2020
BY HAILE DEMEKE
