Gifaataa

Gifaataa
ጊፋታ
Gifaataa Festival
Observed byWolayta people
SignificanceFirst day of the year in Wolaita
Celebrations
  • Family members and kinship gathered and eat special meals prepared from meat cheese, natively called waxayaa, qaye ashuwaa, muchuwa, etc .
  • Invitations of neighbours making of compromise if there is disagreements among neighbours and relatives.
  • Playing of Leke etc.
DateSeptember (based on lunar calendar)
2025 date21 September
2026 date20 September
2027 dateSeptember
2028 dateSeptember
Duration4 days (Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday)
FrequencyAnnual
Related toNew Year
Gifaataa, Wolaita people New Year festival
CountryEthiopia
Reference02315
RegionAfrica
Inscription history
Inscription2025 (20th session)
ListRepresentative

Gifaataa is a cultural festival celebrated by the Wolayta people in the Southern Region of Ethiopia within Wolayita Zone. The festival is celebrated each year in September, where the Wolayta accept the New Year and send off the old one. Gifaataa means "the beginning," and is also considered the bridge from old to new, dark to light. During Gifaataa the Wolayta dance and enjoy cultural foods. The significance of Gifaata is to eliminate issues of the past and start afresh, reconciling past quarrels and strengthening family and community ties moving forward.

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