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Buhe festival – Ethiopia

There are many festivals in Ethiopia that celebrated all throughout the year. Buhe is one of Ethiopia’s most popular, joyful and oldest festivals. People from across the country participate in Buhe, especially in the evening many houses light a bonfire and there is the singing and dancing.

I am writing this eating special bread prepared by our mom for the festival and recalling my boyhood at times of the festival. Buhe actually means “bread” or “dough”. To celebrate this festival bread dough is arranged in each house. This dough is used for baking the following day. Bands of small boys call at each house, singing and jostling until they are given some fresh dough (buhe) that is being prepared for baking.

In the evening the tradition is to light bonfires which are lit outside of each home. Bundles of twigs call” Chibo” are collected and hung outside of the home during the days up to the festival. Later they will form the bonfires.

At this time in Ethiopia the rainy season is harsh and cold, so Buhe festivity is the sign of the end of the summer and the beginning of our unique Ethiopian New Year which is mostly celebrate on the 11th of September.

Peace, force and joy,

Bereket- Ethiopia