Meskel 9/27/15

Sometimes I forget about how truly amazing my day-to-day life is…but today I was reminded, and I am going to tell you about it!

I have only been in Ethiopia for three months, but I have found myself caught in a whirlwind of celebrations! It’s so rad! I definitely am going to celebrate more often back in America. I’m still new around here, so basically I live my life having no idea what’s going on around me. Usually my days are occupied by someone randomly coming to my house, unannounced, and scooping me up for an unknown adventure. This day it happened to be a 12 year old little girl who is also my best friend. The cause for celebration: Meskel.

Like most times when I leave the house, I grabbed a scarf to throw around my head and shoulders and headed out. She handed me off to her father who escorted me to the outskirts of town (about a 10 minute walk) to a large open field. Everyone starred, whispered and giggled as the foreigner joined in on their celebration. All of the women had the brightly colored net’elas around their heads. Net’elas are large, handmade cotton scarves with colourful accents at the fringes (most traditional Ethiopian clothing is white). They are worn by women for special occasions and religious purposes. I walked in on everyone singing and dancing around someone playing a large drum. The ceremony was then shifted to a different location, and people gathered around a massive structure of dried up eucalyptus leaves and branches. Everyone chanted incoherently in a language I didn’t understand for quite some time. As thrilling as this sounds, I occupied myself by making faces at the little kids who were staring at me. They would laugh, scurry, run away, and then come back. It was a fun game. 

Notice the Net'elas! Also, notice how the kids stare at me. I wasn't kidding!

Next, the drums started to pound faster. Everyone clapped in a synchronized beat and started what sounded like warrior cries. The giant structure in the middle was lit on fire and the people started moving in a circle around it. The clapping, drums and chanting all continued. Simultaneously, a giant mob of people with celebratory sticks started running and dancing faster and faster! The ceremony paraded throughout the entire town- dancing, clapping, fire, drums, sing-songy chants…It was kind of comparable to Christmas carolling except not awful and with more rhythm. I was lulled to sleep by the sounds of this holiday that carried on into the night. I was in awe the entire time.

I am so grateful to have had to opportunity to experience the vibrant energy of Meskel. Who doesn’t need an excuse to dance around a fire? I am overwhelmed by the beauty of what I experience every single day. Things are really denser out here…a lot happens in a short amount of time. In only three months I have felt so many feels and thought so many thoughts and seen so many things and met so many people and ate so many foods and danced so many dances and survived so many bacterial infections and learned so many lessons…. It’s completely awesome. My life is so cool.

-Maa-ree-yaa-naa-