Daily Archives: September 28, 2026
What are 10 interesting facts about Irreechaa?
Here are 10 interesting facts about Irreechaa, drawn from its ancient origins, spiritual practices, and growing global reach.
1. It’s Not Just One Festival — It’s Two
Irreechaa is celebrated twice a year, marking two distinct seasonal transitions. The main festival, Irreechaa Malkaa, is held in autumn (September/October) at rivers and lakes to mark the end of the rainy season. The second, Irreechaa Tulluu (or Arfaasaa), is celebrated in spring on hilltops and mountains to welcome the rainy season .
2. 
Its Roots Go Back Over 6,000 Years
This is not a recent tradition. Irreechaa is rooted in over 6,000 years of Cushitic civilization, making it one of the oldest continuous thanksgiving traditions in the world. It predates both Christianity and Islam in the region .
3. 
It’s Recognized by UNESCO
The festival is intimately tied to the Gadaa system, the traditional Oromo governance structure. The Gadaa system was inscribed by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, giving Irreechaa international recognition as a vital part of global cultural heritage .
4. 
You Can’t Attend with a Grudge
One of the most striking rules of Irreechaa is that you cannot participate if you are holding resentment or hatred toward others. Disputes must be settled before the festival. It is believed that Waaqa will not accept the prayers and songs of those who come with unresolved conflict .
5. 👩🏾🤝👨🏾 Women Lead the Procession
In a powerful cultural tradition, women walk at the front of the Irreechaa procession, ahead of the Abbaa Gadaa (Gadaa leaders) and elders. If the women stop walking, the entire procession stops. Nobody passes before them. This is rooted in the Siinqee institution, which symbolizes women as sacred and as agents of peace .
6. 
The Grass and Flowers Are Sacred Symbols
Participants carry fresh green grass and yellow daisies (daraaraa keelloo) to the water’s edge. The grass symbolizes life, fertility, and renewal, while the yellow flowers bloom specifically during the Birraa (spring) season. Dipping them into the water is an act of purification and gratitude .
7. 
It’s Africa’s Largest Outdoor Gathering
The main celebration at Hora Arsadi in Bishoftu is one of the largest annual human gatherings in Africa, attracting millions of people. International media like the BBC, Al Jazeera, and CNN have covered the massive scale of the event .
8. 
It Returned to Finfinne After 150 Years
In 2019, Irreechaa was celebrated at Hora Finfinne in Addis Ababa for the first time in 150 years. Under previous regimes, public celebrations had been banned. Its return to the capital was seen as a powerful act of cultural reclamation and identity .
9. 
It’s a Global Diaspora Tradition
Irreechaa is not confined to Ethiopia. Oromo communities in the United States, Canada, Germany, Australia, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and the UK organize their own celebrations. In cities like Melbourne, Washington D.C., Toronto, and Berlin, the diaspora gathers in parks and community centers to maintain their traditions and pass them to the next generation .
10. 
It’s a Platform for Peace and Unity
Beyond thanksgiving, Irreechaa is a peace-building event. Scholars describe it as a festival that “sermonizes peace, reconciliation, and unity.” It brings together people of all ages, genders, religions, and social statuses, reinforcing the values of equality and social harmony.
My Favourite Festival: Irreechaa
By Dhabessa Wakjira
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There are festivals that entertain, and there are festivals that transform. Irreechaa belongs to the second category. For me, it is not simply my favourite festival — it is the most meaningful celebration I have ever known.
A Festival That Belongs to Everyone
What I love most about Irreechaa is its radical inclusivity. It does not matter who you are, where you come from, or what faith you follow. The festival is described as a “culture of inclusivity” where people of all backgrounds, languages, and religions are welcomed . When you stand at the water’s edge, surrounded by thousands of people carrying fresh green grass and yellow daisies, you realise you are part of something far bigger than yourself.
Gratitude at Its Purest
Irreechaa is, at its heart, an act of thanksgiving. It is a time to give thanks to Waaqa (God) for the rains, the harvest, the gift of life itself. In a world that often rushes past moments of gratitude, Irreechaa forces us to pause. To look back at the year that has passed. To acknowledge the blessings we have received. To welcome the new season with hope.
There is something profoundly grounding about this. The festival reminds us that we are part of nature, not separate from it — that the changing seasons, the flowing water, and the blooming flowers are all gifts worth celebrating.
A Time for Reconciliation
One of the most beautiful aspects of Irreechaa is its emphasis on reconciliation. You cannot fully participate if you are holding resentment or conflict in your heart. Disputes must be settled. Forgiveness must be offered. The festival creates a powerful, community-enforced deadline for healing broken relationships.
In a world so often divided by conflict, Irreechaa offers a different path — one rooted in peace, understanding, and the courage to let go of grievances.
A Living Link to My Heritage
For those of us in the diaspora, Irreechaa is more than a festival. It is a lifeline to our homeland. It connects us to our ancestors, our language, and our traditions. When I celebrate Irreechaa in Australia, I am not just remembering Oromia — I am keeping it alive within me.
The songs, the prayers, the procession, the grass, the flowers, the water — every element carries the weight of generations. And by participating, I become part of that unbroken chain.
A Festival That Survived
Irreechaa has been celebrated for generations, preserved through years of oppression and systemic subjugation . That it survives today — and thrives — is a testament to the resilience of the Oromo people. Every celebration is a quiet victory. Every song is an act of defiance. Every gathering is a statement that our culture cannot be erased.
The Feeling You Can’t Explain
Ask me to describe what Irreechaa feels like, and I will struggle. It is the sound of thousands of voices singing together. It is the sight of elders leading prayers and children watching with wide eyes. It is the smell of fresh grass and flowers. It is the feeling of belonging — of being part of something ancient, sacred, and unbreakable.
It is joy. It is peace. It is home.
Why It’s My Favourite
Irreechaa is my favourite festival because it is not just a celebration. It is a spiritual homecoming. It is a time to give thanks, to reconcile, to reconnect, and to remember who I am.
In a world that moves too fast, Irreechaa invites us to slow down. To be present. To be grateful. To be together.
And that, to me, is the most beautiful thing a festival can offer.
Baga Irreechaa nagaan geessan! 
Irreechaa: A Special Festival for Kids
Irreechaa is a very special festival celebrated by the Oromo people. It is a time to say thank you to Waaqa (God) for all the good things in life — like rain, food, family, and friends.
Irreechaa happens when the rainy season ends and spring begins. Families dress in beautiful, colourful clothes and go to rivers or lakes. Everyone carries fresh green grass and yellow flowers. They dip the grass into the water and sprinkle a little water on themselves. This means saying goodbye to bad things and welcoming good things.
People sing songs, dance, and share food together. Elders give blessings and everyone prays for peace. It is also a time to say sorry and make friends again if someone was upset.
Irreechaa is celebrated in Ethiopia and all around the world, even in Australia! It teaches us to be grateful, to be kind, and to stay together.
It is a happy day full of colour, songs, and love. That is why Irreechaa is such a wonderful festival!
Baga Irreechaa nagaan geessan!
