So I thought my cake party at the office would be my one and only celebration of Ethiopian New Year! However, as I have come to realize, when in Ethiopia, always expect the unexpected. I returned home on Wednesday evening and after dinner, received a telephone call from our landlord, Terefe, who told us that we were going to have a New Years Celebration and light celebratory new years torches in the front yard after sunset. Well, at 9 PM, we were greeted with a large collection of logs and sticks on the driveway which were lit and a large fire was created. Terefe’s second son, Abel, started the music (a large CD player which he hooked up to the TV in the house and then cranked the volume) which included a rousing rendition of Ababaiyo. Terefe started the Ethiopian dance parade and he led us all in a group dance around the fire. Just like that. I was dancing to Teddy Afro celebrating New Years Eve at our Ethiopian home with my new group of family and friends.
We sang and danced around the fire, clapping and laughing, turning and swaying until the fire burned right out! Terefe then launched rocket like fire crackers into the air and we all celebrated the dawning of a new year. There are many photos and I hope to one day figure out how to post them on Blogger when the internet decides to cooperate for longer than a few minutes at a time.
Afterwards, we took group pictures. I must tell you that in the front yard, they had a sheep tied up, because they had bought him from the butcher earlier that day to have as their meal for New Years Day on Thursday. The sheep was dancing along and making noises to all the music, completely oblivious to his fate the very next day. I felt bad for the poor creature – as the resident vegetarian – it was my responsibility to assume this role. At one point, the sheep became so excited that he escaped from the confines of the rope that tied him to the post and ran free. The children immediately chased him and tied him back up. I was so glad that I was leaving for Bahir Dar the next day and would miss the slaughter of the sheep – ah – Lambchops – we hardly knew ye.
After the dancing and fireworks, we were treated to an Ethiopian feast of sorts by Terefe and Yeshi including injera, shiro, lentil stew/curry etc. As Wednesday and Friday are fasting days pursuant to the Ethiopian Orthodox faith, no meat products are eaten on that day – so there was no meat, eggs, cheese, dairy etc. The dinner was set out in Terefe’s house at the back. It was my first time visiting the home of Terefe and Yeshi, located literally a few feet from our back door and it was adorned in traditional decorations for the occasion – fresh grass strewn on the floor and a table with the feast spread before us. We also had popcorn with our drinks and we watched part of an Ethiopian movie with the family that dealt with inter-cultural dating and the search for a notorious, violent criminal. Yes, you read that correctly – don’t even ask me what the story was about. All I can say is that Ethiopian movies are far more risqué than Bollywood fare which often won’t even show the main characters kissing.
