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Haddish Amet

We have come to that time of the year when we are preparing to celebrate our traditional New Year. Back home, in those old days when we light 'Hoye Hoye' on the eve of Kidus Yohannes, Hadish Amet singing:

Hoye hoye, - hoye
Hoye Zeybele - hoye
Amet n Amet-ye … and so forth, and so forth.

Every wish to lighten-up and brighten up the year ahead. 'Ghe'at hamli wisa-e, ghe'at tesmi etto' (out with vegetable porridge, in with butter porridge) - may the year ahead be prosperous enough for us to be able to afford butter.

Meskerem flowers are blooming in the fields and it used to be that during this festive weeks young girls in small groups with their small drums hanging on their shoulders singing about the new year, chasing and praising the gentlemen in the streets in the hope of raising some money, 'ayaye bejaka guuergura jubaka'. While some men who part with their small changes will be awarded with more praises - 'ayay worki se-atu burur merebe-atu; woe to the one who does not throw them a coin or two. What about the young boys on Hoye Hoye night with their Hoye or Shig burning, 'Aboy Kesagerekum, Adey Kesagreken' - to cross over the fire literally - which happens that we leap over that burning fire. Yes! crossing over to the New Year, we leave behind the past year and make that leap towards the New Year.

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