BY MULUGETA GUDETA
As we approach the biggest celebrations of the Ethiopian calendar, our thoughts inevitably go to this time of the year when the past is slowly giving way to the near future and to the traditions and practices that recur every year. The magic of Ethiopian festivals is that they come and go with regular cycles but we do not get bored or tired of observing them with relentless passion despite the fact that life has never been always kind to us.
As an ancient polity, Ethiopia boasts of its own calendar system which is composed of 13 months, 12 months of 30 days and 1 month of 5 or 6 days depending if it’s a leap year. This calendar shows the date in both Ethiopian and Gregorian systems. Ethiopia uses two 12-hour sets. Furthermore, the two sets rub from dawn to dusk and dusk to dawn: the day starts at 6AM in the morning and ends at 6PM (sunrise to sunset). The main point of difference lies in the calculation of the date of the birth of Jesus, which means that the Ethiopian calendar is 7 to 8 years behind the Gregorian calendar.
Speaking of the Ethiopian calendar which is unique in the whole world, it would be unfair not to talk about the famous tourist slogan known as “Thirteen Months of Sunshine” which was in use for 50 years before it was replaced by the current motto known as “The Land of Origins”.
An online portal known as Addis All Round, reports the following to elaborate the root of the famous although now defunct slogan, “13 Months of Sunshine” goes a popular Ethiopian tourism slogan. Ever wondered what it means? A brochure lures visitors with a promise to “Come to Ethiopia and enjoy 13 months of sunshine.” “The Thirteenth Sun”, a novel by Dagnachew Werku was a meditation on Ethiopian society as it was in the 1960s when the slogan “Thirteen Months of Sunshine” became popular. “Thirteen Months of Sunshine” has long been a slogan of pride to Ethiopians for over 50 years. For thirteen months, every single day, be it summer or winter, rain, shine or gloom the sun comes out to salute the people of Ethiopia.
This is particularly true at this particular time of the year when sunshine seems to have come to the sky earlier than usual. However his is also what makes the beauty of the Ethiopian and Addis Ababa climate: sunshine is unpredictable as rainfall is.
The quotation from the above source goes on to elaborate that “Mr. Habte Selassie Tafesse, the then Minister of Tourism, is popularly known as the man who coined the term “Thirteen Months of Sunshine” and who single handedly established tourism in Ethiopia. Habte Selassie Tafesse introduced the concept of tourism in Ethiopia by making use of what makes the country different. He found it in the unique Ethiopian Calendar.”
Like any year, 2014 has been an eventful one as far as developments in the arts and culture are concerned. “Ethiopia’s diverse cultural make-up means that there are plenty of opportunities to experience festivals and fairs, as well as cultural and sporting events. In particular, there are several major religious festivals held all over Ethiopia, throughout the year.
Many of the biggest events and the most popular things take place in Addis Ababa, such as the Ethiopian Film Festival each May, while the southerly city of Arba Minch is known for its music and dance celebrations at the end of the year. Each November, the Great Ethiopian Run is also worth looking out for, being followed soon after by Kullubi (Feast of St. Gabriel).”
September is the first month of the year on the Ethiopian Calendar while Enkutatash – the Julian Calendar is still used in Ethiopia; hence, New Year is celebrated on 11th September. The festival coincides with the end of the rainy season in spring. Gifts of flowers are usually exchanged, as well as cards and gift items. By the way, there is a difference between the Gregorian and the Julian calendars. The Julian calendar, proposed by Julius Caesar in AUC 708 (46 BC), was a reform of the Roman calendar. … It took effect on 1 January AUC 709 (45 BC), by edict.
The country’s New Year falls during what is known as the shoulder season—after the long rains subside — one of the best times of the year to visit Ethiopia since the weather is slightly cooler than during the summer. Enkutatash is a great time to visit Danakil, one of Ethiopia’s natural wonders. It is also a suitable moment for ecotourism and outdoor activities such as hiking or trekking. The word Enkutatash is heavy with symbolism as it not only means the ‘gift of jewels’ but also represents the end of the rainy season—the time of year during which the Ethiopian landscape is covered with bright yellow flowers called Adey Abeba.
Festivities to celebrate Ethiopian New Year include family gatherings to enjoy a traditional Enkutatash meal and celebrate together by giving children gifts. Celebrations start on the eve of Enkutatash, on which many families attend a church service and offer prayers ushering in the New Year. Singing and dancing are also common ways to celebrate, especially among young girls.
The Ethiopian New Year’s celebration is said to date back to the time when the Queen of Sheba returned from her visit to King Solomon in Jerusalem in 980 BC. The Queen was welcomed back in her country with plenty of jewels, also known as “enku” in the official national language.
Experts in the field suggest that currently, the Julian calendar is 13 days behind the Gregorian calendar. So, to convert from the Julian calendar to the Gregorian calendar, add 13 days; to convert in the opposite direction, subtract 13 days. The gap between the two calendar systems will increase to 14 days in the year 2100.
Meskel is celebrated on 27th September. Flower-filled processions and burning torches make up this festival to commemorate the finding of the True Cross by the Patriarch of Alexandria. Part of the cross is said to be preserved at the Ethiopian monastery of Gishen Mariam.
Irreechaa is held around the pilgrimage site of Lake Hora. Each year, the Oromo people visit Lake Hora to carry out religious ceremonies. The ceremonies are attended by more than a million visitors who carry out annual rituals to Waka or the God thanking Him for His generosity in allowing the rain to fall and the grass to grow. Hence rainfall and green grass have a particularly pronounced presence during the celebrations. The younger generation of Oromos liken Irreechaa to Thanksgiving in Western culture; with the difference that the thanksgiving is to God in case of Irreechaa.
It is virtually impossible to go through all the festivals and celebrations that took place during the just ending Ethiopian year. It would however be relevant to focus on the some of the most relevant events. The Ethiopian year 2014 or 2022 has witnessed many cultural and artistic events such as the first East Africa Art and Culture Festival that kicked off in Addis Ababa in the presence of representatives from East Africa as well as government officials the host nation that took place on June 14, 2022.
As reported at that time, the six-day long festival showcases indigenous manufacturing products, traditional cuisines and medicines, artistic pictures and sculptures, including languages and cultural symposium and book fairs.
The opening ceremony has taken place at Meskel Square accompanied by cultural dances and exhibitions. Ethiopian National Theatre and Entoto Park will also host various programs of the festival.” Authorities from the participating countries said that the Festival would strengthen people-to-people relations among the countries in the East African region.
A representative from South Sudan Ministry of Culture Youth and Sports noted that the Festival reflects the cultural mosaic of East African countries and it should get deserved attention and recognition in the region, according to EPA. It is to be recalled that Ethiopia has proposed for the East African Cultural and Art Festival to be hosted in rotation among countries in the sub-regions annually.
Fichee-Chambalaalla, is also a New Year festival of the Sidama people. “Fichee-Chambalaalla is a New Year festival celebrated among the Sidama people. According to the oral tradition, Fichee commemorates a Sidama woman who visited her parents and relatives once a year after her marriage, bringing buurisame, a meal prepared from false banana, milk and butter, which was shared with neighbours.
Fichee has since become a unifying symbol of the Sidama people. Each year, astrologers determine the correct date for the festival, which is then announced to the clans. Communal events take place throughout the festival, including traditional songs and dances. Every member participates irrespective of age, gender and social status.”
There are also other religious and secular festivities that are celebrated with varying degrees of passion and preparations. The Ethiopian that is just coming to an end has also witnessed important developments in the cultural, literary and artistic fields. The year was also notable for launching the first nationwide campaign known as “A million Books for a Million Readers” that has resulted in the collection of hundreds of thousands of books donated by Ethiopians in all walks of life. The initiative was taken by the Abrehot public library the first of its kind in Ethiopian history for its size, technology and shelf size and for catering to the older adults as well as to children’s reading needs.
Speaking of books, exhibitions have taken place at the Addis Ababa Trade and Exhibition Centre where bookworms brushed shoulders with authors and insiders of the publishing world who attended those events in order to promote their works. In music the Ethiopian year 2014 saw the appearance of Rophnan’s album that catapulted the artist to international fame and prestige. The New Year 2015 is sure to witness additional developments in arts and culture as the country is making headways in other fields of endeavors.
The Ethiopian Herald September 3/2022
