BY DANAT TESFAYE
It is not mysterious that climate has an impact on how people develop culture and form a life style. Different lifestyles such as the dressing style, food culture, job status and social activities are amongst things that highly are affected by climatic condition. For instance, people who live in cold climatic area tend to consume more foods that give energy and dress woolen clothes unlike people who live in hot climatic conditions.
In the temperate zones there are four well-defined seasons; Summer, Winter, Autumn and Spring. Each of these seasons has different patterns that repeat every year. Summer has warmest condition, most daylight and quick growth of plants. Sprout of plants and blossoming of flowers are features of spring season, while, temperature drop and lose of leaves of trees occur in autumn season. Of the four seasons, winter is known for its cold weather, little daylight and limited plant growth.
When winter approaches, birds harvest enough food to survive during the rainy season. Black bears go on Bing-eating (eat excess food) so as to gain weight and spent the whole winter in deep sleeping. People start to wipee their boots shoes and clean their cotton clothes.
In this season it is also common to see people wearing many layers of tick clothes and carrying umbrellas to warmth inside themselves and escape from the showers of the rainfall. As thunder and lightning are elements of winter season, people who are extremely afraid of them (people with Astraphobia) might be seen shouting and trying to hide from the storms. While some animals like the black bears hibernate the whole winter to survive, others migrate to different hot places. These are some of the characteristics of winter season manifested across the world, other varieties of activities during winter take place depending on the cultural, religious and other stance of people.
Winter and Culture
Various definitions and explanations are given for culture. From those definitions, the explanation: “culture is a way of life of a group of people; the behaviors, beliefs, values, and symbols that they accept, generally without thinking about them, and that are passed along by communication and imitation from one generation to the next” is highly related to the content of this piece.
Based on their cultural values, people in different countries spent the winter season with different activities. To cope up with cold nature of this season, Ethiopians have there typical way of dressing. In most of Ethiopian places, Gabi (a kind of blanket made from woven cotton) has been used to survive from the cold of the winter season. But these days Gabi is used only by senior citizens and usually at homes. The influence of westernization is manifested through the dressing style of the youth; instead of Gabi and other traditional clothes, coats and jackets made of cotton and wool are used. Another thing that may not be common in other countries is that hair style and the habit of carrying umbrella. Braided hair either with natural hair or wig became the choice for many Ethiopian women as it lasts long and doesn’t require combing every day. On the other hand, men prefer not have a haircut during winter so as to resist the cold. Though the exact reason is unknown, men especially the youth do not want to carry umbrella even with heavy rainy days, rather they prefer running to escape from the rain. Some relate this with being hero and unbeatable by rain, others say that if they carry umbrella they would fell as if they are women.
There are some countries that have people who still wear their traditional clothes daily. Some of these countries include Pakistan, India, and Indonesia, Maasai people of Kenya, Vietnam and Japan. Of course there are other countries who wear their traditional clothes occasionally or during festivals, but in the above countries people wear the clothes every day i.e. both during winter and summer season. The traditional clothes of Pakistan and India are called Sari and shalwar kameez, these clothes are made of cotton and they are lightly draped around the person’s body which are warm in the winter and are cool in the summer.
Food can also be taken as one form of expression of culture or cultural identity. Scholars agree that food has the potential to shape identity, culture and society as it is multidimensional. Some kinds of foods are known for their belongingness to a particular group of people who share common culture. Various cultures use foods beyond surviving; for instance for medication and beauty.
Weather conditions are also a push to kinds of foods and drinks we prefer. In the coldest of winter, it is expected to see people eating that gives them resistance to the cold and have enough warmth. The search of warmth people in some parts of the world eat pork. Pork is rich in nutrients and are indeed one of the foods preferable to eat during winter season as it takes time to burn and gives off a lot of energy, it help the body stay warm. However, as culture and religion have their influence on kinds of foods we eat, pork eating is strictly prohibited by religions such as Islam, Judaism and Ethiopian Orthodox Church eating pork.
In Ethiopia, winter and corn are almost inseparable. It is one of the highly consumed cereals in most places of Ethiopia during winter. Late after 5:00 pm, it is common to see people walking on the streets eating roasted or boiled corn. Corn warms the evenings of winter season; it is a source of play and fun for many families during traditional coffee times. Besides, sweet potato, lamb soup, ginger tea and the like are some of the foods taken by most Ethiopians during winter season for cold resistance.
Chinese people usually eat Dumplings, Tangyuan, Wonton, Mutton Soup and the like to increase body’s ability resist cold and warm up soon. There is a famous saying in northern China that dumplings can protect someone from ear frostbiting (ear freezing). One of the West African countries, Nigeria has also special foods for rainy season, Yam is the most known food of Nigeria as an everyday meal, but when it is boiled and served with ofada sauce, it will be the best dish to bright rainy days. Eba and Pepper soup are also consumed in the winter to sleep well and minimize the chance of getting cough and cold.
Norwegians are fond of Finn biff made with meat, mushrooms, sour cream and other ingredients. It is the best dish during winter to warm up the body.
Winter and Religious beliefs
In different religions, winter season has different meanings, explanations and interpretations. Sometimes it is used to express distressing situations metaphorically. To the contrary, winter is also taken as a bridge to the bright and fruitful season.
In some religions, winter is preferable for fasting as the days are short and cold which make the all-day fasting trouble-free, and because of the fact that the nights of the winter season are long, believers could have enough time to pray at night and to have enough rest (sleep well). In doing so believers will feel grateful for not missing the night praying and the rest body needs.
One of the appeals to God during this season in Ethiopia is to provide rain for the places in need and to fill rivers to their bounds. “For the rains we beseech, that God may send rain on the place that needs it. For the water of the rivers, we beseech that God should fill them unto their due measure and bounds”.
Winter is not just about the rain, the cold, the storm and the dark; it’s also about the colorful combination of cultural and religious activities.
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD FRIDAY 22 JULY 2022
