On the road approaching Addis, street sellers were offering bunches of yellow daisies and bundles of grass to be used for New Year celebrations in this country.
In our disheveled state this was just the right uplifting experience.
From three in the afternoon an ongoing coffee ceremony was performed in the reception hall of our hotel.
At a festive dinner, we were entertained by singing azmari (wandering minstrels - Minnesaenger), playing on drums and masenko (single-stringed fiddle), singing and prancing around. We did not understand a word of their Amharic renditions but the laughter was contagious. Fellow female diners taking part in a strange way of ‘dancing’, with fixed grins, madly flapping breasts, shuddering shoulder movements, creating a whirling demonic whole, had us spell bound.
When we proceeded to the still ongoing coffee ceremony for a late night brew, a guest of honour was called to bless, cut and dish out a special bread baked for the occasion. Curiously, serving popcorn is part of the tradition.
Shortly before midnight bundles of long twigs were handed out, ignited and a big fire was created with them. Everyone carried on singing and dancing around the fire, supported by the drums and masenko, until it was burnt down enough for some daredevils to jump across.
This brought us “back” to the year 2002 in the Julian calendar.
We hope that this does not mean that we have to travel another seven years to reach home in the Gregorian time zone?
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