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Before
the introduction of Christianity and Islam, the Oromo people
have been practicing their own religion. But nowadays most of
them are converted either to Christanity or Islam.The
Oromo who believe in Waqqa (God) pray by gathering
under the big tree called Odaa.
They believe in one waqaa, which has the same meaning as the
English word God. The Oromo Waqaa is one and the same for all.
He is the creator of every thing, source of all life, infinite
and all- embracing. He can do and undo anything. He is pure,
intolerant of injustice, crime, sin and all falsehoods. |
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Oromo also have their own calendar called dhahaa. According to one
scientist called Professor Asmerom Legesse the Oromo calendar is a
great and unique invention. Such a calendar has been recorded only
in very few cultures in the history of mankind. The only other known
cultures with a similar type of time keeping are the Chinese, Mayans
and Hindus. Furthermore, professor Asmerom states that "The Oromo
are unusual in that they seem to be the only people with the reasonably
accurate Calendar, which ignores the sun". |
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Epiphany
(which is celebrated yearly on January 19 for the commemoration
of the baptism of Christ), Ethiopian Christmas (which is celebrated
yearly on January 7 for the commemoration of the birth of Christ)
and Meskel (which is celebrated yearly to commemorate the finding
of the true cross by Empress Helena, the mother of Alexander
the Great) are the main festivals celebrated by the Ethiopian
Orthodox Church.