Irreechaa facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Irreechaa |
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Irreecha Festival in 2019 at Addis Ababa
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| Official name | Irreechaa |
| Observed by | |
| Type | National, cultural |
| Significance | Thanksgiving |
| Celebrations | |
| Date | In October every year |
| Related to | Thanksgiving day |
Irreecha (also called Irreessa or Dhibaayyuu) is a special thanksgiving holiday. It is celebrated by the Oromo people in Oromia Region, Ethiopia. This festival marks the end of the long, rainy winter season. It also welcomes the bright, new spring called Birraa.
During Irreecha, the Oromo people thank Waaqa (their God). They give thanks for all the good things and blessings they received. This includes good health and successful harvests from the past year. The festival happens every year in early spring. Hundreds of thousands of people gather to celebrate. They often go to sacred lakes, like Hora Harsadi in Bishoftu. At the lake, people dip fresh green grass and flowers into the water. They also sprinkle themselves with water as part of the celebration.
In 2019, Irreecha was celebrated in Addis Ababa for the first time in 150 years. This is the capital city of both Ethiopia and Oromia. Later, another celebration took place in Bishoftu. In 2020, about 5,000 people celebrated Irreecha in Addis Ababa. This was due to some political issues and the COVID-19 pandemic. Oromo people living in other parts of the world, like North America and Europe, also celebrate Irreecha.
Why is Irreecha Celebrated?
Many people think Irreecha is only about surviving a difficult time. However, it is much more than that. The Oromo people celebrate Irreecha to welcome a time of peace and good harvests. The winter rainy season, from June to September, can be tough. Heavy rains can make it hard to travel and visit family or friends. Rivers might swell, causing floods. This could make it difficult for people and animals.
Winter can also be a time when food becomes scarce for some families. The food harvested in January might be running low. New crops are not yet ready to eat. But in Birraa (Spring), this changes. Many food crops, especially maize, become ripe. Families can then enjoy plenty of food. Other crops like potatoes and barley also ripen in spring. Some illnesses, like malaria, can also spread more during the rainy winter. Because of these challenges, the Oromos see winter as a difficult season. However, they do not hate rain. If there is not enough rain, they even pray to Waaqa for it.
The Oromo people celebrate Irreecha to thank Waaqa. They also welcome the new season of plenty. This season comes after the dark and rainy winter. Irreecha festivals bring friends, family, and relatives together. Everyone celebrates with joy and happiness. These gatherings help people feel closer and strengthen their community bonds.
This important event also marks the end of the rainy season, called Ganna. Oromo ancestors started this tradition long ago. It began during a time called Gadaa Melbaa, which was a period of hunger. The day this difficult time ended was a Sunday in late September or early October. Modern Oromo people now call this day their National Thanksgiving Day.
Important Events at Irreecha
On October 2, 2016, a large gathering took place at the Irreecha festival. This festival is very important to the Oromo people. During the event, a crowd movement occurred. This led to many people getting hurt. Local people said that security forces caused the crowd to move suddenly. This event was a sad day for the community.
