Enku-ta-ta-sh
(እንቁጣጣሽ) is the first day of
the New Year in Ethiopia based on the Coptic calendar, which was fixed to the
Julian calendar. It occurs on Meskerem 1
on the Ethiopian month calendar, which is September
11 or 12 in the leap year of the worldwide Gregorian calendar.
By a calculation the Ethiopian calendar is currently
seven years and eight months behind the global Gregorian calendar.
Enkutatash
is also an important festival for the Ethiopians as it symbolizes the advent of
good harvest weather. After months of torrential pour, the month of September
sees clear skies and fresh, clear, beautiful atmosphere. The highlands all
teeming with flowers and the land looks like it is made of clear gold as the Meskel –religious celebrations to commemorate
the discovery of the true cross on which Jesus Christ was crucified –daisies
bear flowers in the season.
The Origins of Enkutatash
Tracing the origins of the Enkutatash tradition, as
historians site it, whether it’s factual or not, is a tell-tale biblical spectacle
as the Ethiopian Queen of Sheba aka ‘Makeda’
came back from her visit to the fabled King Solomon, the elders (the chides) of
the tribes as a welcome gesture offered her Jewels known as enku(jewels). This story is still under
extreme study about its authenticity. However, Enkutatash translates to the ‘Gift of Jewels’ and has been
celebrated henceforth in the season of spring. September (Meskerem) hence is the month which sees the transition period of
the transformation from the old to the new and hereafter this month nestles
within it the hopes for a brighter and better future.
The Origins of Meskel
Traditional Meskel Celebrations
On the Eve of Meskel, bonfires ( ደመራ - Demera) are made out of dry leaves and wood, and lit alight in front of the houses. This lighting of the bonfires is then accompanied by the singing of songs by the young and the old. At wee hours of the morning, people dress themselves in traditional Ethiopian costumes as they pay a visit to the church which is followed by family meals comprising of injera which is basically a form of flat bread and wot –an equally famous Ethiopian staple stew. (These are famous cuisines available in every Ethiopian restaurant around the world. Please, visit your local venders and enjoy the feast.)
Meskel (መስቀል) celebration occurs on the 17th of Meskerem (September) in the Ethiopian
calendar which is September 27 or 28 in leap years in the Gregorian calendar.
Meskel, a religious
holiday celebrations in the Ethiopian Orthodox, commemorates the discovery of
the cross by the Roman Empress St. Helena (Saint Helena), mother of Constantine
the Great, in the fourth century, on which Jesus Christ was crucified.
According to
written observations, in the year 326 AD Queen Helena went on a search for the
true cross and was unsuccessful until she received help through a dream.
In accordance
with her dream, she made a bonfire (Demera
- ደመራ) and the smoke gave her direction to the spot where
the cross was buried. To herald her success, Helena (also known as Nigist Eleni
in Ethiopian) lit torches.
Traditional Meskel Celebrations
On the Eve of Meskel, bonfires ( ደመራ - Demera) are made out of dry leaves and wood, and lit alight in front of the houses. This lighting of the bonfires is then accompanied by the singing of songs by the young and the old. At wee hours of the morning, people dress themselves in traditional Ethiopian costumes as they pay a visit to the church which is followed by family meals comprising of injera which is basically a form of flat bread and wot –an equally famous Ethiopian staple stew. (These are famous cuisines available in every Ethiopian restaurant around the world. Please, visit your local venders and enjoy the feast.)
The girls in Ethiopia on New Year occasions go on singing
songs from door to door and receive money for it, much like the
tradition of Christmas choirs and carol singing children, the boys of Ethiopia
on the other hand sell pictures of flowers that have been drawn by them. I
remember, every year we couldn’t wait to exhibit our best flower drawings for
competition and then after going around neighbourhoods to present the flowers
to receive small amounts of money in return for appreciation, This was one of
the best highlights of my childhood life. With the advent of the evening people
go and visit their family and friends as they drink Tella, Tej and Araki –the
locally homebrewed traditional Ethiopian beverages. (Please, visit your local
Ethiopian restaurants and ask for if they sell them.) Also as the elders sit
together and discuss about things that concern them and about their hopes for a
New Year. The children wander around freely and happy to spend the money they have
managed to earn giving out their flower drawings on the occasion.
Modern
Celebrations
Nowadays, although, some still follow the
traditional indoctrinations, others have embraced the city’s inhabitant’s way
of life fancying the modern spirit and have adopted the more western way of
sending out greetings instead of the traditional bunch of flowers that have
been part of the Ethiopian customary since the beginning of the festivities.
MEMORANDUMS
OF PEACE
To all my Ethiopian family, friends, people, wherever
you maybe, back Home or scattered around the world, may the coming year be a
very healthy, peaceful, prosperous and Happy Enkutatash.
It is common to read history backward and assume
that a particular group is destined to become dominant, but conflict is part of
the historical narrative and as such unavoidable part of human experience
marked by complex relations and a never ending alternation between the
oppressed and oppressors, families, friends and foes.
It is said that those who do not learn from past
mistakes are doomed to repeat it. Many mistakes and errors have been committed
by successive HABITS in the past. These mistakes need to be identified, studied
and lessons drawn from them so that they will not be repeated again. We need to
build collective agenda to advance and support these mistakes and undertake not
to repeat them.
Playing the ethnic card game is to fall victim to
destructive identity politics that breeds division, hatred, conflict, and
cynicism. One Ethiopia: no more trickery and cynical ploy to divide the country
along ethnic line for the sole purpose of maintaining its hegemony.
The process of unifying people is difficult and the
road to unity is often littered with the debris of historical grievances,
animosity and resentment.
We cannot transform our country without first
educating, inspiring and transforming our people to the level that requires
understanding, mutual respect and endeavor to unfold the bondage of ignorance
and evil governance that capitalizes on our negligence to become informed and
ready to defend collectively, as living organism of habitat do, to the
perpetual continuity of our existence as Ethiopians. –Tesfaye Aman
The realities today are different than they were
five, ten or twenty years ago. Aligning one’s thinking and actions with the
changing times (realities) and circumstances is a sign of wisdom and humane
maturity.
Failure can be turned into an opportunity to learn
and grow. I say it can, because it requires a particular attitude to benefit
from our failure. Without that mentality, all our failures will go to waste.
This is true in political affairs as it is in personal life for a leader as
well as a follower. So what is that mentality?
It is a mentality that is willing and able to
reflect on past experiences – past actions and their outcomes.
It is only through such reflections that one learns
one’s strengths, weaknesses and the environment and conditions in which actions
were undertaken and what could have been done differently that could have
resulted in a positive outcome.
As
Obama time after time stated in several of his deliveries, “change takes time”,
it’s time for us to take responsibility for our own predicaments and stop the
name and blame game!
May the coming year be a time to resolve all our
uncertainties and sustain peace and harmony in our family, friends, community,
locally and globally.
Health & Happiness
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