In every society, be it in developing or developed countries, the contribution of women during holidays is multifarious. Even though their involvement and the part they play differ from country to country and from culture to culture, it is possible to say that young girls and women are always the main actresses that give life to festivals.
Ranging from purchasing holiday materials to redecorating the houses, from preparing delicious foods and drinks with whatever is available at home, without a shred of doubt; women are always at the front in adding more colors to the festivals and making everything fascinating.
The role of Ethiopian women, in this regard, is manifold. In addition to their regular arduous household chores, such as food preparation, child rearing, cleaning, purchasing goods for holiday parties, women exert utmost energy and shoulder extra responsibilities to make the festivals more impressive and unforgettable to the entire family members.
They go all out to prepare foods and drinks that are served on the table be more aromatic and delicious, to keep everything well organized and make all the things magic.
Obviously, Meskerem is a month of numerous holidays. The month, as it is a time that Ethiopians send off the old year and welcome their New Year, a number of festivals that have cultural and religious relevance will be celebrated. Among these festivals, Gifaataa, the New Year festival of the Wolayta people, is the one.
Gifaataa is a cultural festival celebrated by the people of Wolayta in the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples’ State (SNNPS) in the month of September. When flowers blossom, green grasses and yellow flowers cover the mountains, plateaus and the gorges, the people of Wolaita will welcome their New Year warmly and colorfully.
As Wolaita Zone Chief Government Officer Asaminew Ayeza told EPA. Gifaataa means ‘the older or the beginning.’ It is also considered as the bridge from old to new, dark to light. Gifaataa is also the name given to the first month of the year in Wolaita’s calendar,
And in this festival, the role of young girls and women in making the festival a real festival is incomparable.
As stated by Culture, History and Heritage Researcher Adane Ayza, the role of women in Giffaata festival is central. Women start their preparations on the same day the preceding Giffaata festival is celebrated by storing butter in the form of Equb, a rotating saving that enable them to deposit money that will be used for the holiday – to buy festival items such as cultural clothes, Enset products and the like materials. This technique of saving money among the people of Wolayta for Gifaataa event is known as qoraphphuwaa.
Thus, when the actual day rolls around, primarily on the second market week of Gifaataa season, known as Bobbooda, women get together at the house of the Equb’s leader to collect their respective money that they deposited for a year to cover the expenses spend on this special holiday.
Mothers since mid-June, start preparing Enset (false banana) that will be used for the making various traditional foods such as “Kocho”, “Muchuwa” and “Bachira” joining hands with their friends and daughters. In addition, they prepare dat’a, red pepper, and homemade cultural drinks such as Borde, Tella, Tej, Qaribo, and store milk in big clay pots.
They also purchase food grains, numerous beautifying cosmetics as well as lemons that will be used for a traditional game known as ‘Gaziya’ and keep them in a cool place.
As the researcher stated to EPA, preparation of Dat’a pepper in the Giffaata celebration is a must and will be carried out by every individual woman when the festival is nearing.
Young girls give a helping hands to their mothers in all activities, concurrent to their personal activities such as dye and decorate their hands and feet with ‘Ensosela’ (similar to henna) and playing traditional game, ‘Gaziya.’
Preparing food and serving family members, neighbors and invited guests are also tasks that women are expected to do so accordingly and effectively.
The researcher pointed out that Giffaata festival has additional important values among the people- they have to pay off loans before the actual day of the event. For the reason they believe that not settling lends of the preceding year brings bad luck to the coming year and it takes away the blessings of the New Year. Wolaitas, no matter what, will not welcome their New Year acquiring loans. Thus, they pay back loans before the Giffaata festival. One, if he fails to do so, will receive strong condemnation from the community. Owing to this unwritten law, thus, it is a must for someone who borrowed money or grain to clear his debt before Giffaata day, Adane elucidated.
According to the researcher, saving among the people of Wolaita will not come to an end once the Giffaata celebration is concluded. Rather, it continues in the same manner for the next year’s New Year festival. They start depositing their first day’s saving on the fresh skin of the ox that was slaughtered for the festival; and continue doing it on weekly basis.
This unique practice of Wolaita community, apart from its economic importance by allowing mothers to cover their holiday costs, it has substantial social consequences. It further strengthens their social bonds and cooperation and plays a vital role in promoting a culture of saving among the young generations.
BY STAFF REPORTER
The Ethiopian Herald September 28/2023
