Buhe
ቡሄ
People from home gathering into torch and sing "Hoya Hoye" in 2016
Observed by
SignificanceTransfiguration of Jesus on Mount Tabor
Celebrations
  • People in neighborhood gather and circumambulate chibo while singing "Hoya Hoye"
  • Group of children sing outside people's home with exchange of mulmul bread
Date19 August
Next time19 August 2024 (2024-08-19)
FrequencyAnnual

Buhe (Ge'ez: ቡሄ Buhē) is a feast day observed by the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church and Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church on 19 August (13 Nahase in the Ethiopian calendar).[1] On this date, the Ethiopian Orthodox Church celebrates the Transfiguration of Jesus on Mount Tabor (Debre Tabor Ge'ez: ደብረ ታቦር).[2][3]

Observance

Buhe celebrated by Ethiopian Orthodox and Eritrean Orthodox Churches on 19 August (13 Nehase in Ethiopian calendar) in commemoration of Transfiguration of Jesus on Mount Tabor (Debre Tabor in Ge'ez). Buhe is one of old age religious and cultural festival.[4]

Observations include people of the neighborhood tie a bundle of sticks together to make a chibo, and set it on fire while singing songs.[3] The main song is called "Hoya Hoye" with one singer singing while the others follow in a rhythmic way. It involves young boys singing songs of praise outside of people's homes, in exchange for fresh bread called mulmul.[1] The boys then bless the family of the home for the following year.

References

  1. ^ a b "Ethiopian festivals". Selamta.net. Retrieved 2012-01-08.
  2. ^ "Ethiopian Orthodox Liturgical Calendar Holy Days". Ethiopianorthodoxchurch.info. Major Holy Days. Archived from the original on 2012-06-03. Retrieved 17 August 2014.
  3. ^ a b "The Transfiguration of Jesus" (PDF). Ethiopianorthodox.org (PDF). Retrieved 17 August 2014.
  4. ^ "Ethiopia: Buhe Festival Beyond Religion". allAfrica.com. 2020-08-19. Retrieved 2021-08-18.


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