Discover Sidama
aspects, which are: New Moon, Half Moon and Full Moon. Accordingly, the researcher Vekiato mentions that the moon provides light for 15 days and gets dark for 15 days Dates and their counting methods in Sidama: There are 28 days in a month of Sidama which is 27 days having special double name of “Ayana” and a day of “Lao” (View). There are five days a week, which are named Qawado, Qawalanka, Dela and Dico, where the fifth day repeats the first round as well. There are seven weeks per month, and the old- existing time – formulation of Sidama makes the year containing 12 months, excluding of Pagume (the leap month). However, to advance with the national calendar, the month of Pagume is given the name “Fooqa” and in incorporated into the months of the year. Months of the year: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13.
WOCAWAARO – September BIRRA – October BOCAASA – November SADAASA - December ARFAASA – January AMMAJJE – February BADHEESSA - March DOTTEESSA – April ONKOLEESSA - May ELLE – June MAAJA – July WOCAWAAJJE – August FOOQA – Leap month
The 27 days except the day of Loa (View or observe) have a double name for each of them (like Arba, Bola, Basa, Basanta…), in which case the name given to the dates has combined the nature of the dates with the livelihood and behavior of human being and is based on an abstract philosophy of Sidama. As such, the Ayantos predict and inform as to which specific date is best or worse for social interactions such as going to hunting, laying down the foundation of dwelling house and engagement of a girl for marriage. Of the 27 days, the Sidama consider the four days as being filled with success and achievement, the best ones to go on hunting. Engaging a wife or fixing wooden post for a house, half of the rest of the days are considered as worse and half of them as both good and bad in combined form. However, if a certain action must fall on a day considered as worse, then, the people keep on praying to God, slaughtering cattle and sprayed the blood so as to have the bad incident be removed and get good result instead. This action is performed by old-aged male person Celebration of the Sidama New Year Holiday (Fiche) The Sidama nation has its own New Year celebration which will be celebrated for two weeks colorfully every year. The holiday is known by the name of Fiche. The Fiche day will be clearly known through the Ayantos 16