The cold winter season comes to an end around the beginning of the New Year when the fields, mountains, and valleys are blooming with flowers and the sun shines brightly through the clouds. People cherish new hopes and dreams in times of change of season.
In Ethiopia, there are various practices to farewell the old year and welcome the New Year. For New Year, some traditions and practices have been passed down from generation to generation in Ethiopia not only to make the present change and be bright, but also to make the future era of peace, love, and happiness, especially health.
Indeed, each nation has its customary way of ringing in the New Year. For instance, the Chinese, who live in the age of the tiger, burn bamboo and display red paper to ward off evil spirits at times of transition. They dress in crimson and light candles. To ensure prosperity in the future, Sri Lankans who follow the Sinhalese calendar of the Buddhist era boil milk and apply it to their foreheads with their priests.
People participate in or practice a wide variety of customs throughout the New Year. A lot of people take the start of a new year as an occasion to create resolutions and goals for that year. These objectives may pertain to your personal life, career, or health. These customs are optional, and each person has their special manner of ringing in the New Year. Doing what feels right for you and is in line with your values and objectives is what’s most crucial.
Ethiopia is a gallery of numerous rituals and traditional activities that are followed to promote harmony, peace, optimism, and health among individuals, families, and the general public. Among others, Eating Feto or garden cress on an empty stomach is regarded as a traditional practice across the nation.
Eating Feto is an Ethiopian New Year Morning tradition. Garden cress (Feto) is consumed by everyone in the home on an empty stomach. The most crucial questions here are: Why do Ethiopians eat garden cress in the morning of the year and where does garden cress come from?
Generally speaking, the following ingredients are required to prepare garden cress (Feto): Garden cress seeds, ground to 1/2 tsp. Lemon/lime juice, Enjera, and 1/4 cup water. They combine and consume two tablespoons (tbsp) on an empty stomach, and wait a few hours until they start to enjoy the special meal for the holiday.
Along with the health advantages, eating garden cress on an empty stomach symbolizes two things. The first one, regardless of place, ethnicity, educational status, religion, and so on, garden cress is recognized as an indigenous, herbal medicine. It is widely experienced in Ethiopia and plays an imperative role in the healthcare systems of the country. In many instances, people have acknowledged the value of Feto and have taken various measures to integrate it into their healthcare systems.
More importantly, after the ghetto meal is prepared, the family members abstain from any other food for a few hours. Eating Feto helps get rid of the waste and unnecessary things that are accumulated in the abdominal organ. It is believed that eating Feto on the first day of the New Year helps to avoid and recover from diseases throughout the year.
Therefore, Feto/ garden cress is accepted as an herbal or indigenous medicine and it is widely used as an essential healthcare infrastructure. Furthermore, Feto/garden cress has various health benefits. As a result, it is a plant that is frequently grown in Ethiopia. Because of its high nutritional value, it is frequently eaten as a leafy vegetable or as a spice in many cuisines. Garden cress is a well-liked option for promoting health because it is high in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Besides, it is frequently used to increase the flavour and nutritional value of salads, soups, stews, and sauces. Since they have a milder flavour than mature leaves, the plant’s leaves are normally collected when they are young and fragile.
The other representation of eating Feto/ garden cress is to put on the spirit of hard work, forgiveness, and service to avoid things that disturb the peace of mind. As anyone who eats Feto/ garden cress, cleans his or her body especially, its stomach from parasites, she or he should also clean his/or her mind from evil or negative thoughts. Hence, it is believed that the garden cress helps the person to banish negative energy and welcome the New Year with positive energy.
It is also culturally significant to eat garden cress on New Year’s Day in Ethiopia. Garden cress consumption around this period is thought to bring luck and wealth for the upcoming year. The idea of celebrating the start of a new year is in line with the idea that garden cress represents fresh starts and rejuvenation. Garden cress is also loaded with nutrients, so eating it could be a good way to start the year off well.
Given the symbolic representation of garden cress, there are still disagreements in science over its genesis. Many scientific studies suggest that the garden cress plant originated in Ethiopia before being dispersed and domesticated in other nations, according to Falana et al. (2014) and Wadhwa et al. (2012). Garden cress is currently grown on a limited scale in many nations, particularly in India, Pakistan, Europe, and the majority of African nations due to its tolerance of various temperate zones.
Garden cress can, however, be grown all year long in many climates and elevations, but damp loam soil is best for its high yield. Garden cress has many uses, and the leaves, seeds, and roots are just a few examples. The plant’s roots are used as a condiment, the raw leaves are used to make a salad and can be cooked with other vegetables, and the dried leaves are used to treat a variety of illnesses and disorders including inflammation, bronchitis, rheumatism, and muscle discomfort, and they are also used as a diuretic.
Hence, garden cress is prized for its therapeutic benefits in addition to its culinary applications. It is thought to provide several health advantages, such as enhancing immunity, stimulating hair growth, and enhancing digestion. Garden cress is frequently prescribed in conventional medicine as an herbal treatment for conditions like coughs, colds, and stomach issues. Overall, garden cress is very important to Ethiopian culture and diet. Its cultivation and use aid in the preservation of conventional medical procedures as well as food security and nutritional diversity.
Therefore, eating Feto/ garden cress is an Ethiopian New Year Morning tradition that symbolizes the cleansing of both the mind and the body. It is believed that eating feto at the beginning of the New Year helps to avoid and recover from diseases throughout the year. Besides, in the New Year, it is necessary not only to maintain the health of the stomach but also to put on the spirit of hard work, forgiveness, and service to avoid things that disturb the peace of mind.
BY EPHREM ANDARGACHEW
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD TUESDAY 12 SEPTEMBER 2023
