Gifaataa
ጊፋታ
Gifaataa Festival
Observed byWolayta people
SignificanceFirst day of the year in Wolaita
Celebrations
  • Family members and kinship gathered and eat special meals prepared from meat cheese, natively called waxayaa, qaye ashuwaa, muchuwa, etc .
  • Invitations of neighbours making of compromise if there is disagreements among neighbours and relatives.
  • Playing of Leke etc.
DateSeptember (based on lunar calendar)
2022 date25 September
2023 date24 September
2024 date22 September
2025 date21 September
FrequencyAnnual
Related toNew Year
Wolaytas playing "Leke" at the Gifaataa festival

Gifaataa is a cultural festival celebrated by the Wolayta people in the Southern Region of Ethiopia.[1] This festival is celebrated each year in September.[1] In this celebration, the Wolayta accept the New Year and send off the old one.[1] Gifaataa means, "the beginning," and is also considered the bridge from old to new, dark to light.[2] During Gifaataa, the Wolayta dance and enjoy cultural foods. The significance of Gifaata is to eliminate issues of the past and start afresh, reconciling past quarrels and strengthening family and community ties moving forward.[1]

Chronology

The royal advisers summoned to the palace by census experts, when the old year draws to a closer. [3] Then, the royal advisors go out at night to determine the roots of the lunar cycle, the four parts of the moon: i.e. (poo'uwa, xumaa, xeeruwa, Goobanaa) and come with the numbered signs of the year and observe the full moon cycle and announce it to the king and his advisers.[4] After telling the king exactly the date, they return home with a reward, and the king's approach to the festival will be told to the people by proclamation at the market and public meetings.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Fekadu, Nardros (12 October 2019). "Wolaytan way of ushering in New Year". The Reporter Ethiopia. Retrieved 9 September 2021.
  2. ↑ "ስለ ጊፋታ በዓል አከባበር አጭር ማብራሪያ" (in Amharic). Wolayta Zone Administrations.
  3. ↑ "AWANA". Association of Wolayta and Allies in North America. Retrieved 2021-09-08.
  4. ↑ "Gazziya". Association of Wolayta and Allies in North America. 2020-07-20. Retrieved 2021-09-08.
  • Media related to Gifaataa at Wikimedia Commons
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