By Tewodros Kassa
Ethiopia
celebrates its new year annually, while the butter flowers or the
yellow daisies shoot forth. Ethiopian new year is manifested by numerous
attractive sceneries that see off the departing old year and usher in
the new one. On the foot of the country's mountainous, boasting of a
vast array of endemic flora and fauna, full-year flowing huge rivers
afford memorable trips to most corners of the nation. The piquant
traditional, cultural and well established hospitality of the citizenry
is also heartening.
Enkutatash, comes
first on the calendar of cultural holidays which the present generation
too celebrate. It is a manifestation of the nation's diversified
seasonal shows. It as well serves as an occasion nation and
nationalities showcase their costumes,they put on this land mark holiday
that opens another chapter.
For tourists,
parallel to observing greenery and must-see natural events, it could be
worthwhile to observe traditional ceremonies that attend this holiday.
During this time it is mesmerizing observing exquisite butter cups,
newly growing crops on the farm land and farmers engrossed in activities
unconstrained by accidental rainfalls. It is also refreshing tuning to
birds singing tune as if ecstatic in welcoming the sunny season.
The ground looks a
green carpet bearing motley artificial flowers. It is interesting to
hear child girls accentuate the event with melodious songs while they
sing the new year song Enkutatash.
In this article,
this writer tries to depict issues that revolve around the cultural
ceremonial proceeding, feelings of individuals as well as memories of
Ethiopian new year and tries to assess what it looks like. In addition
to this, it also observes how people react to the new year social
occasion. Enjoy Ethiopian New year.
"In my childhood
days, I used to eagerly look forward to something special when a new
year draws nigh. Those days are memorable and indelible.
But a grown up the feeling is not that fervent.
I recall in the
good old days the way the neighborhood convene and celebrate the holiday
having a cup of Ethiopian traditional coffee,the green emerald and the
socializing agent. The songs and plays of children conjures up in mind a
memorable image. That time I was one of the main facilitator and
coordinator of the games that we played together keeping the former game
rules and principles. Following this, currently I spend most of the new
year ceremony passing my time with my former child friends rewinding
our memories back as we do on Sundays," so said Surafel Teka teacher
here in Addis.
He told this writer
that as just everybody else he becomes extravagant in spending money
that day. On the other hand, he says that it is customary for family
heads on the eve or during the holiday week to bend over backwards or
expend much money to cater to the holiday's innumerable demands.
The other
interviewee is Amanuel Eshetu leading a bachelor life here in Addis
after graduating a year ago from Bahir Dar university. He said that a
new year is a special occasion that brings the people together to
exchange best wishes--A happy and prosperous Ethiopian Year-- enjoy the
new year, renew relationships, promote togetherness as well as motivate
individuals for further accomplishments in life. He awaits the new year
eager to mend wrong turns and to do something better and greater than
gained achievements. Year after year, everyone dreams to better
accomplish in life but translating that might not prove simple.
He said in rural
areas one could feast one's eye on how the old and new years exchange
robs, on how mother nature puts on its green mantle adorned with flowers
as well as on the zigzag flowing rivers. It is also elating to watch
the happiness stamped faces of people which mirrors transition from a
gloomy to a bright season.
He said he prepares
ahead of time to render the day colorful,memorable and an occasion of
cordiality and togetherness. Every ceremonial occasion of the day is
expected to be alluring and creating enchantment. Thus not to miss
another memorable time of this nature I have a plan to holiday at Bahir
Dar together with family members, relatives, neighbor and church
congregants. There,such togetherness help me revert back to the past.
The spirit of thinking for the needy reminds me our deeply entrenched
feelings of considerateness.
Everyone might have
different take about the coming of a new year that brings a good hope
to every citizen and the motherland. Assessing past performances, most
individuals vow to themselves to accomplish set plans in the ensuing
year. Marshy and dry lands dry up basking under the sunny season.
New year is
considered a springboard that propels a person to success,
profitability, acceptability as well as gaining more blessings. It as
well is an occasion for forging good relationships with more people
around.
In Ethiopia, every
segments of the society is highly enthusiastic to celebrate holidays
together. Nations and nationalities have their own unique form of
ceremonial process which expresses their long lasted forefathers
inherited celebration process.
Most of the time
specially children give due attention to new year in Ethiopia. They have
their own way of marking the day. They prepare beforehand white paper
and paints. Drawing lessons from their elders, preparing
paintings--flowers and angles--p they will give it as a gift to
relatives and people in the neighborhood. Most of the time they receive
money in return. On this day people make doors open, dogs chained, and
shower this children with different gifts. The gifts include; money,
stationery materials, clothing as well as other rewards. The society
presents this gift to them with the belief that the happiness of
children renders the whole environment a place of bliss and happiness.
On that day
everyone is expected to stay joyful,sumptuously dress with their Sunday
best or new clothes, feel new, dine together an array of mouth watering
dishes and bout alcohol or beverages as well as present gifts to the
helpless. But they never forget to support the needy to celebrate and
enjoy the holiday with a similar feeling. Some think any mishap that day
augurs unhealthiness and unsuccessful throughout the year.
The aforementioned motivating reasons are the inducements that make people readytwo or three months ahead of the actual day.
Also, most of the
time,some individuals exchange memorable gift articles with each other
to cement or refresh relationship. For instance friends, colleagues,
neighbors and people acquainted on some occasion are seen exchanging
gifts. Nowadays Public Relation officers dispatch post cards bearing
their mission and visions together with best wishes.
Kalkidan Teferi,
resident of Addis lead her life through buying and selling gift articles
w in her small souvenir shop located at the heart of the city in
Piassa. She says that most of the time the market becomes warm during
holidays. "When new year ensues people think of exchanging gifts. Thus
to satisfy the demand of our customers we strive in gathering most
attractive cultural and ancient souvenirs and handicraft items from
different parts of the nation that convey a new year message. In order
to avail attractive gifts to the day We collect some of the items from
the countryside. Our customers' demand is divers."
Be it small or
large the gift's size doesn't matter. The main objective of new year
gift is boosting and renewing relationship, expressing best wishes. It
could also be sen as acknowledging that person. Especially new year
gifts play a tangible and shortcut ways to express love, gratitude,
hope, cooperation, readiness to work together and much more among the
receiver and presenter group of the gift article. Such gestures induce
and strengthen their proximity and ties.
Moreover, the
flower market in the country would also shown a good progress following
the transition period from the the old year to the new one. Everyone
prefers to observe the old flower on the table to replaced new ones.
Eldana Sidelil is
one of the flower retailer in the city. She reflects her view about the
flower market saying "It is highly dependable on different ceremonial
occasions such as holidays, engagement or graduation." Thus the habit of
flower consumption is still at its grass root level. For instance,
during this new year one might observe clients thronging flower shops
but the market falls sharply then after.
Summing up, it is
such a captivating holiday that individuals plan and gear up to
implement their set goals in their walks of life or personal life. Not
only embarking on a new year, life also needs a scheduled plan and a
well managed situation to head towards fruitfulness. You readers might
also have extra plans in your work, education, business and much more.
The main agenda is leading life committed and purposefully to contribute
due share to our planet. May your new year plan be achievable and
fruitful!, May you contribute something worth while to the society.
Dreaming big,
accomplishing new tasks, becoming the winners as well as being the role
models in our profession are possible while being organized in a
substantiated manner. Thus, in order to actualize you dream lay the
cornerstone at the starting point of your new year. This starting point
awakens you to go straight tackling obstacles to meet your final
destination.
New year also
serves for refreshing the year long fatigued mind, widen thinking as
well as bring new thoughts initiating plans or new assignments for
future endeavor and finally enhance perform better than the past year.
Lastly may all of you have a prosperous, successful, peaceful and fruitful new year that is filled with full of happiness. Read more here
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