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The Oromoo CalanderThe Oromoo Calander
Oromo Calendar
Time is a very important concept in Gadaa and therefore in Oromo life. Gadaa itself can be narrowly defined as a given set of time (period) in which groups of individuals perform specific duties in a society. Gadaa could also mean age. The lives of individuals, rituals, ceremonies and political and economic activities are scheduled rather precisely. For this purpose, the Oromo have a calendar. The calendar is also used for weather forecasting and divination purposes.
The Oromo calendar is based on astronomical observations of the moon in conjunction with seven or eight particular stars or star groups (Legesse, 1973 and Bassi, 1988) called Urji Dhaha (guiding stars). According to this calendar system, there are approximately 30 days in a month and 12 months in a year. The first day of a month is the day the new moon appears. A day (24 hours) starts and ends at sunrise.
In the Oromo calendar, each day of the month and each month of the year has a name. Instead of the expected 29 or 30 names for days of a month, there are only 27 names. These 27 days of the month are permutated through the twelve months, in such a way that the beginning of each month moves forward by 2 or 3 days. The loss per month is then the difference between the 27-day month and the 30-day month, (Legesse, 1973). One interesting observation is that, as illustrated in the computing of time like in the Oromo calendar, Oromo’s visualization of events is cyclical just as many events in nature are cyclical.
Since each day (called ayyaana) of a month has a name, the Oromo traditionally had no use for names of the days of a week. Perhaps it is because of this that today in different parts of Oromia different names are in use for the days of a week.
Each of the 27 days (ayyaana) of the month has special meaning and connotation to the Oromo time-keeping experts, called ayyaantu. Ayyaantu can tell the day, the month, the year, and the Gadaa period by keeping track of time astronomically. They are experts, in astronomy and supplement their memory of things by examining the relative position of eight stars or star groups, (Bassi, 1988) and the moon to determine the day (ayyaana) and the month. On the basis of astronomical observations, they make an adjustment in the day name every two or three months.
The pillars found a few years ago in north-western Kenya by Lynch and Robbins (1978) have been suggested to represent a site used to develop the Oromo calendar system. According to these researchers, it is the first archaeon-astronomical evidence in sub-Saharan Africa. Doyle (1986) has suggested 300 B.C. as the approximate date of its invention.
According to Asmarom Legesse (1973), “The Oromo calendar is a great and unique invention and has been recorded only in a very few cultures in the history of mankind.” The only other known cultures with this type of time-keeping are the Chinese, Mayans, and Hindus. Legesse states that the Oromo are unusual in that they seem to be the only people with a reasonably accurate calendar that ignore the sun. Professor Asmarom Legesse did an extensive study of the Gadaa System (An Oromo whole way of life) over the past 50 years and wrote a book. His second edition of the book will be coming out soon. He gave an interview back in April 2019 saying “. Gadaa is a whole way of life, a philosophy of life, it’s an organization built on the human life course from childhood until old age, you have a place in Gadaa.
You progress from one 8-year period to the next, methodically and in each stage, you have certain responsibilities associated with that stage. You become a herder at one stage, then you have your first initiation around adolescence. The first initiation is very important, it lasts for 4 years. They’re inducted into office, elected their leaders, they elect their leaders who are going to come to power 21 years later in advance while they’re in that position, they’re heads of their own generation so they learn to govern but they’re being vetted, they’re being checked out during that period to see if they’re WORTHY OF THE OFFICE. If you qualify after 21 years, then you manage to become Abba Gadaa and head of the institution for a period of 8 years.”
This goes to show Oromo people were civilized way before Ethiopia existed and we have our own way of managing our home, neighborhood, education, Healthcare, governing, etc. So, an Oromo calendar is a calendrical system developed by the Borana Oromo. The Borana calendar consists of 29.5 days & 12 months for a total of 354 days in a year. The calendar has no weeks but has names for each day of the month.
Namoratunga archaeoastronomical site in northern Kenya near Borana land, stone pillars pointing to the position of stars used in the Borana calendar were found. The stone pillars are believed to date as far back as 300 b.c.
A lunar-stellar calendar, the Borana Oromo calendar relies on astronomical observations of the moon in conjunction with seven particular stars.
Borana months (stars/lunar phases) are:
Bittoottessa(triangulum), Caamsa (pleiades), Buta(aldedaran), Waxabajjii(bellatrix), Oborra gudda (central-orion – saiph), Oborra xiiqqa (Sirius), Birra (full moon), Ciqaawwa (gibous moon), Sadasaa (quarter moon), Abraasa (large crescent), Gurraan dhala (small crescent).
The days are:
- Bita qaraa. 4. Soonsa
- Girdaduma. 5. Soorsa
- Bita lamaa. 6.Rurruma.
- Algajima. 10. Gidaada
- Lumasa. 11. Walla
- Arb. 12. Ruda.
- Basa dura
- Areeri dura
- Basa ball’oo
- Areeri bal’oo
- Carra.
- Aduula dura
- Maganatti jarra.
- Aduula bal’oo
- Maganatti birritti.
- Garba dura
- Salbaan dura
- Garba bal’oo
- Salbaan bal’oo
- Garba dullacha.
- Salbaan dullacha.
By, Oromia-Country/Oromo nation
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IrrechaIrrecha
Irrecha (Irreechaa)
What is Irreechaa or Irreessaa? Who Celebrate Irrecha?
Irrecha is an Oromo holiday. It is also called Irressa. It is a thanksgiving of an Oromo people mainly in Ethiopia and Neighboring. Irrecha an Oromo thanksgiving known as a symbol of peace, unity, and love even increasingly celebrated every year throughout the world where Oromo diaspora communities live. The Oromo people in Oromia/Ethiopia and elsewhere celebrate Irrecha to thank Waaqaa (God). For the blessing and mercies, they have received throughout the previous year. In Oromia, Irrecha celebrated highly at Bishoftu the sacred land of Hora Harsadi (lake Har Sadi) and Finfine City. In Many Oromia regions at its lakes, rivers, and mountains. The Irrecha festival is celebrated every year at the beginning of birraa which is the sunny season after the dark and rainy s winter season. It is celebrated around the world where the Oromo diaspora lives especially in North America, Europe, the Middle East, and Australia. Oromo People consider the winter rainy season of the year to September as the time of difficulty. The heavy rain during winter which associated with things like wind, swelling rivers, and floods that may affect the daily life of people, livestock, crops, and flood homes.
During this period, as a result, the family relationship will also sever. They can’t visit each other, due to heavy rain and flood. In addition, the winter could be a time of economic difficulties or hunger for some people as a matter-of-fact previous harvest collected in January may run out and harvest is not ripe yet. Therefore, some families may endure a shortage of food during wintertime. In birraa (the season of Winter in Oromia), this shortage will end as many crops ripe, and so the families can eat their fill. Furthermore, some diseases such as malaria which usually break out during the rainy season would go as winter ends. So, Oromo may see the winter as a difficult time but it does not mean the Oromo people do not like rain or the winter season at all. For example, any time when a shortage of rain or famine occurs Oromo people pray to Waqaa (God) for the rain.
In general, the Oromo People would celebrate the Irrecha or its thanksgiving to mark the end of the rainy season, known as Gana. This holiday calendar was established by Oromos’ forefathers in the time of Gada Melba. The dark time of starvation and hunger- was established on the first Sunday of the last week of September or the first Sunday of the first week of October according to the Gada lunar calendar which was designed as a national thanksgiving day by modern-day Oromo people. The Irrecha celebrated across Oromia, and especially at sacred land Hora Har Sadi, Bishoftu. According to Oromo elders, Irrecha is one of the ancient ceremonial events taking place twice a year since the existence of the Oromo nation. Irrecha constitutes one of the cultural and religious practices defining the hallmark of the entire Oromo life. It has promoted and enhanced an understanding and unity among the Oromo people. It has built their common values and shared visions, consolidated peace, tolerance, and resilience. During Irrecha, the Oromo pray to Waqaa (God) for peace and stability to prevail, prosperity and abundance to exist, and law and order to be maintained. Also, the environment to be protected.
Despite many challenges, the growing number of participants every year at the Irrecha festival shows, the growing Oromo nationalism is absolutely true. For an instant, at the Irrecha festival, verities of cultural dressing and songs including associated joys, happiness, and other events which indicate Oromo people’s emotions and historical social bonds are self-evident of Oromo nationalism or Oromumma. Apart from its cultural and religious functions, Irrecha symbolizes the unwavering unity and solidarity among the Oromo nation in Oromia (Ethiopia) and elsewhere in the world. In 2019, for the first time after 150 years ago banned from Capital, Irrecha an Oromo thanksgiving holiday was celebrated in the nations and Oromia State Capital Finfine followed by Irrecha in Bishoftu as the result of the Oromo struggle. The year 2019 Irrecha was celebrated in large numbers both In Finfine and Bishoftu, however, in 2020 due to political tensions and the Covid 19 pandemic, it was celebrated in less number. This year of 2021, Oromo people celebrated Irrecha in large number more than previous years in Oromia State Capitol Finfine, and at sacred land- Hora Har Sadi located in Bishoftu. Also, cross Oromia regions and around the world more than ever where the Oromo community exists.
http://https://youtu.be/xSfb_RzrEzU?t=7
