ADDIS MAYA

Ethiopian languages

Ethiopians are ethnically diverse, with the most important differences on the basis of linguistic categorization.

Ethiopia is a mosaic of about 100 languages that can be classified into four groups.

The vast majority of languages belong to the Semitic, Cush*tic, or Omotic groups, all part of the Afro-Asiatic language family. A small number of languages belong to a fourth group, Nilotic, which is part of the Nilo-Saharan language family.

The Semitic languages are spoken primarily in the northern and central parts of the country; they include Geʿez, Tigrinya, Amharic, Gurage, and Hareri. Geʿez, the ancient language of the Aksumite empire, is used today only for religious writings and worship in the Ethiopian Orthodox Church.

The most prominent Cush*tic languages are Oromo, Somali, and Afar. Oromo is native to the western, southwestern, southern, and eastern areas of the country. Somali is dominant among inhabitants of the Ogaden and Hawd, while Afar is most common in the Denakil Plain.

Under the constitution, all Ethiopian languages enjoy official state recognition. However, Amharic is the “working language” of the federal government; together with Oromo, it is one of the two most widely spoken languages in the country.

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መስቀል (Meskel) The True Cross celebration, a religious holiday in the Ethiopian Orthodox church. Held to commemorate the discovery of the Cross upon which Jesus was crucified by the Romans. “Meskel” a Ge’ez word meaning “cross.”

The most important religious holiday in Ethiopia, because it’s believed that a piece of the cross Saint Helena discovered was brought to Ethiopia, it is housed in the mountains of Amba Geshen, which itself has a cross-shaped plan.

It also coincides with the predictable end of a long and difficult season of heavy rains. The feast is celebrated on 17 Meskerem in the Ethiopian calendar ,September 27 in the Western calendar.

At time when the rains end, a yellow daisy-like flower, also called Adey Abeba also referred to as a meskel flower, blooms all over the hills and lands in Ethiopia.

The festival symbolizes the liberation of man from sin and his entry into a relationship with God following the death of Jesus. Christian faithfuls believe the death and resurrection of Jesus form the cardinal points of their belief and thus, the discovery of the cross serves to reaffirm and strengthen their faith in their religion.

The ash which was burnt completely in Demera is used to mark a sign of the cross on the foreheads of the believers gathered to witness the event. These markings which are synonymous to the Ash Wednesday celebration, is believed to represent a mark that signifies the cancellation and forgiveness of sins following the death of Jesus on the Cross.

The main national feast is held in Meskel Square, a semi-circular stadium viewing area in Addis Ababa named after the festival.

Most people living in different parts of Ethiopia travel to their hometown to celebrate the event with their families.The famous villages for celebrating this feast is located in Gurage ጉራጌ Zone.

In this zone , the celebrations are held by lighting smaller fires on streets outside their homes, a miniature version of the one lit in the capital. Later on, they gather to enjoy Kitfo (meal of raw minced meat).

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