Ethiopians celebrate a holiday called Buhé (pronounced boo HAY) which is similar to Halloween in the United States. Buhé is celebrated on August 19th (or 20th during leap year) which is during the rainy season in Ethiopia. On the night before Buhé, households get bread dough ready for baking the next day. When night falls on August 19, it is customary for groups of children go from door to door asking for bread or dough. They sing a song called Hoya Hoye along with other songs and jump up and down until they get their treat. In recent years, these children have begun to ask for money. Unlike, the U.S. Halloween celebration, Ethiopian children do not dress up in costumes. During the night each house lights small bonfires of twigs and everyone gathers around the flames. Parts of this celebration are said to come from the story of the Lost Children who wandered away and were found by torch light and given bread to eat. MELKAM BUHE!!
Posted on: Sun, 17 Aug 2014 23:54:53 +0000