Gifaataa

Gifaataa ጊፋታ
Gifaataa Festival
Observed by	Wolayta people
Significance	First day of the year in Wolaita
Celebrations	Family members and kinship gathered and eat special meals prepared from meat cheese, natively called waxayaa, qaye ashuwaa, muchuwa, etc . Invitations of neighbours making of compromise if there is disagreements among neighbours and relatives. Playing of Leke etc.
Date	September (based on lunar calendar)
2023 date	24 September
2024 date	22 September
2025 date	21 September
2026 date	20 September
Frequency	Annual
Related to	New Year

Wolaytas playing "Leke" at the Gifaataa festival

Gifaataa is a cultural festival celebrated by the Wolayta people in the Southern Region of Ethiopia. This festival is celebrated each year in September. In this celebration, the Wolayta accept the New Year and send off the old one. Gifaataa means, "the beginning," and is also considered the bridge from old to new, dark to light. During Gifaataa, the Wolayta dance and enjoy cultural foods. The significance of Gifaata is to eliminate issues of the past and start afresh, reconciling past quarrels and strengthening family and community ties moving forward.

Chronology

The royal advisers summoned to the palace by census experts, when the old year draws to a closer. Then, the royal advisors go out at night to determine the roots of the lunar cycle, the four parts of the moon: i.e. (poo'uwa, xumaa, xeeruwa, Goobanaa) and come with the numbered signs of the year and observe the full moon cycle and announce it to the king and his advisers. After telling the king exactly the date, they return home with a reward, and the king's approach to the festival will be told to the people by proclamation at the market and public meetings.