What is Ateetee - Ateeteen Maali?

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Steeped in tradition and spirituality, the Oromo people of Ethiopia hold a deep reverence for their ancestors and the wisdom they impart. Among the rich tapestry of Oromo culture and customs, one significant ritual stands out: Ateetee. In this blog post, we explore the mystical world of Ateetee, delving into its origins, practices, and the profound spiritual connection it fosters with the past.

Ateetee is a fertility and reproduction festival celebrated mainly by women. The Ateetee festival is celebrated once a year. On the day of Ateetee, the woman celebrates by wearing a special dress of her own, made of Caaccuu and Callee, and by feeding a special meal. Ateetee is believed to have originated when the Oromo lived as Cush (ca. 5500 years ago).

Types of Ateetee – Akaakuu Ateetee

The day of the festival is divided into three parts with the rules of Ateetee:

1. Ateetee Furmaa (Ateetee of the Solution)
2. Ateetee Hagayyaa ykn Sanyii (August Ateetee)
3. Ateetee Loonii (Ateetee of the Cattles)

Ateetee Furmaa (March Ateetee)

This festival is celebrated in March, when a woman pours Ateetee on her children and blesses them. The mother prepares a feast for her children, gathers all the children she has given birth to and pours Ateetee on them to bless them. On that day, all the members of the wife's clan gather at her house to receive the blessings of Ateetee. This is a day when relatives meet.

Ateetee Hagayyaa (August Ateetee)

This Ateetee festival is called Gindii hiikoo or Ateetee Midhaanii. This festival is celebrated in August when the farmer has done the farming, untied the farming objects, poured Ateetee on all the crops he has sown, wrapped the head of the cow and blessed it and released it. This is a sign of the end of the farm. Then the law of dhibaayyuu is completed by going to all the farms. Finally, they sit together in the same place, grab what they have, drink farsoo /local alcohol/ and eat marqaa /pourage/. In general, this festival is called the Festival of Seeds.

Ateetee Loonii (Ateetee of the Cow or Ateetee of March)

This Ateetee festival is sometimes called Jari Korma or Ganni Looni. Ateetee Loonii is celebrated in March. This ceremony is celebrated by planting a tree (called kormoomsaa) in the center of the fence after the cattle fence has been replaced. The cattle fence looks like a bridal hall that day. The female sprouts grass under the male. After the dhibaayyuu ceremony is completed, the husband slaughters what he has prepared for the festival. He touches the blood to the left and right of the gate. The skin of the slaughtered animal is spread and tied or wrapped around the legs and head of the cow. After this, a drink is prepared and the meat is eaten and the farsoo is drunk.

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