Meskel celebration in Wolaita

Ethiopia is a melting pot of diverse languages, cultures, religions, and ethnicities. The northern
speakers of the Semitic language are renowned for their predominantly Christian culture and are
primarily found in the country's highlands. The nation's center, south-east, and south-west are
mostly home to various ethnic groups with Cushitic ancestry who speak distinct but mainly
related languages. Omotic people are those who have settled around the Omo River in the
southern regions of the nation. Among the other ethnic groups are the Wolaita, Dawro, Gamo,
Gofa, Mursi, and Hamer. These people practice marriage and funeral rites in similar ways. Their
cooking and wardrobe styles are also nearly identical. The manner this omotic society celebrates
holidays is one of its characteristics.

Wolaita is one of the omotic groups of people living in Ethiopia. This people have unique have
unique meskel celebration. Men and women start preoaration for ‘meskel bal’ before weeks or
some times before months. Men start collecting wood for cooking about a month early whereas
women start collecting butter, cheese, ‘bulla,’ and other staffs for the holiday. The head of the
household buys new cloths and shoes for his/her children and the children go to their friends and
show them their new cloths.

Wolaita people begin counting weeks differently for the four weeks leading up to the Meskel
‘bal’. They refer to this week as the first week of Harehayko, which marks the beginning of the
Meskel celebration. During this week, people start to purchase decorations for the occasion.
Hare- Hayako Week ends and is followed by Gosho Week. Groups purchase oxen throughout
this week in preparation for the occasion. Bobodo is the name of the third week of a final. In this
week, everything reaches its peak price, and those who are late to the party cannot get the
materials they require for the meskel bal celebration in time

Mothers make ‘bachira’, a traditional Wolaita dish made with bulla, butter, and yogurt, on the
eve of the Meskel holiday. Conversely, girls prepare spicy data that will be used with the row
meet. In addition to bachira, moms also make ‘picata’ and ‘cadhia,’ two more traditional dishes
made on the eve of the Meskel holiday. These dishes are made from cassava tree and milk butter.

Household chiefs will butcher cattle in groups throughout the festival. This tiny gathering,
known as a "Amua," is typically made up of four or six individuals who have come together to
enjoy "kircha." Everyone in the amua will sit together and consume some row meat (kimsha) and
alcohol together before they take a share of their meet. This practice is known as "amona." After
partaking in the amona, the group's older man prays and bestows blessings on each member of
the group. Everyone then takes their share and goes to enjoy with their family.