Abyssinian New Year by Anol Grundset

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Dec 3, 1912

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 39, No. 47.

Abyssinian New Year

By Anol Grundset

THE Abyssinian new year has recently begun, their new year beginning the 11th of September, except when leap-year occurs, when it begins the 12th of September. They count thirty days to the month, and this making only 360 days in twelve months, they have an extra month, the thirteenth month, which is called “Pagumien,” and generally has five days, but in leap-year has six days. They also have a difference of several years in the reckoning. While we say September 11, 1912, it is to them New Year’s of 1905, or “Mescherem;” that is, January 1, 1905. Most of the people, however, know little about what year or time we have, neither do they care to trouble about that, as all such things, which they term wisdom, belong to the priests, and the people await their news and orders from them. Few of the common people, when asked, can give their age, showing the ignorance of the people in general, all knowledge being supposed to be centered in the hands of the priests and teachers of the church.

The new year is opened with St. Bartholomew’s and John the Baptist’s feasts. For nearly a month previous, the boys of the villages have been gathering dried shrubbery and sticks, which they tie up in a long oblong form; and on this mentioned evening, in every village can be seen a long marching trail of boys and older ones carrying these lighted fire bundles, and yelling “Hoi! Hoi!” They march around the village, to the village church. When through marching about here and there, they all gather at one place, all throw down the remains of their burning brush, and then start to jump over the burning fire. It is a spectacle to see these half naked people, in their feasting and excitement, jump through the flames; and it reminds one that we are not wholly separated from the jungle and wilds, tho it is all done in the name of Christianity.

The next morning, the people arise very early, and all are supposed to go through a sort of purification; all who can do so, at some place of water, others in their homes. All are expected to wash from head to foot. Later the people all gather at the village church, where the priests then announce the coming feast-days. For the whole year they are too numerous to mention at one time. I might remark that the Abyssinians fast about half of the year, and feast the other half. The longest fasts are a forty-day fast before Easter, a forty-day fast before Peter and Paul feast, fifteen days for the Mary feast, etc. There are fasts of shorter durations too many to name. Feasts also are plentiful. There is a feast to Mary about every month, to Michael, St. Gabriel, St. George, Tecle Haimanote, Ball Gebre Munfus Kudos, etc., until it does seem that the people are overburdened with feasts as well as fasts, feasts being also reminders that priests await their share in the holiday celebrations.

Another very interesting thing is to see, in the early morning hour, all the people bringing their live stock, as oxen, sheep, goats, donkeys, etc., to the churchyard, to march around the church a certain number of times. Thus even the beasts begin the new year with the mass of the village priests.

Thousands of the native people here can not read, which is the prime cause of their ignorance. Dear reader, thank God for the open Book, the Bible, and pray that the truth-laden Word, earth’s greatest and most effective disseminator of truth and remover of darkness, may find its way to Abyssinia’s millions. More and more every year are learning to read.

I am glad to be able to tell you that already three camel loads of Bibles and Protestant literature have crossed the borders into Abyssinia, and two mules loaded with Galla literature have left Asmara for Galla land. Thus a beginning has been made, which we hope shall spread mightily, that the inhabitants of this benighted land also may be numbered among “all the ends of the earth,” that “shall see the salvation of our God.”

With greetings to coworkers in home and foreign lands, ANOL GRUNDSET. Asmara, East Africa, September 20, 1912.