ethiopian greetings and gestures


The low-ranking person is expected to bend down con-siderably lower than the higher-ranking person. The multi-ethnic and par-tially globalized society of todays Ethiopia and Eritrea allows the parallel or amalgamated usage of G. forms of different cultural origins. A chicken stew cooked in a spicy wot and served with a hard boiled egg. Ethiopians are relatively formal and believe table manners are a sign of respect. For the hand-shake, the Greetings partners stand face-to-face and hold each other with the open palms of their right hands. It can be made with different types of grains and therefore comes in a few different flavors and colors. When greeting one superior in rank, it is customary to touch the right hand to the ground, and then to the lips in supplication while bowing. If invited for a formal coffee you may be seated on pillows or grass and flower-strewn floor with frankincense burning in the background. how do you say i love you to a girl in amharic? You will always be offered a cup of coffee. It is weaker than the first since the same ground beans are used. Booking Terms. For acquaintances who are in a hurry and cannot remain to continue through this whole process, greetings will still be carried out while each person is walking away from the other. amharic 7 Great Languages to Learn if You Plan to Become a Lawyer, How to Become a Software Engineer Without a Degree, Brews and Brains Go Together Pub Trivia Unites Smart Clients and Craft Beers, What Are The Importance And Benefits Of Mobile Applications For Students. It can be a single gesture, but is often com-bined with others. Equals can bow without any indication of status difference, while asymmetri-cal bowing is a clear sign of hierarchy. Once all of this has been accomplished, the actual conversation may begin. It depends on your spiritual leaning whether you would use EGzer yestelegn. Many people in the south and east do not speak Gurage or Hareri. A more formal expression in Amharic is Tena Yistilin which means God will protect you.. Each individual is expected not only to ask after the health of each other, but also after their family members, animals, harvest, business, and any elements of each other's personal life with which they might be familiar. It may be seen as an attempt to garner influence or it may embarrass the recipient as they will not be able to match it in kind. The word Ewdehalehu can be said for a man to indicate love or for the wife to convey respect. Again, all answers are always prefaced with 'thanks be to God', and they are always positive; any bad news must be saved for later in the conversation. There will always be a way to wash your hands before and after the meal. Always allow any elders to begin eating before you do. 6 Beauty Based Gifts To Get Your Wife For Christmas, How to Integrate English Language Training for Retail Businesses, Negotiation Strategies Every Marketer Should Know. For relatives these kisses are placed on the mouth. Religion is a major influence in Ethiopian life. As long as one is still within hearing distance, one is still expected to call out, "AND your NEW CALF, HOW is SHE?!". Gifts may be given to celebrate events of significance or religious occasions. It is considered polite to press the hand of the partner only very gently. The extended family remains the focus of the social system. Gifts are not opened when received. Kisses are very often only implied by bringing the lips near to the others body, sometimes enforced by non-verbal sounds (e.g., in Tgray and Eritrea). The meat is very fresh and of the highest quality. How to develop a tutors page on Instagram and make students find it by themselves? Usually, wots are spicy, but there is an extraordinary variety including non-spicy options. Nearly half the population belongs to the Ethiopian Orthodox Church but there is a also large Muslim population. In informal situations, the freedom to combine these elements is much greater than in formal or ritualised situations. This is a marked change to the language policies of previous governments in Ethiopia. Before speaking both individuals will bow to each other. This can be combined with hand-shaking as well as kissing. For passing greetings this is enough, however if one is going to engage in further interaction with one's counterpart, much more is necessary. "Fasting food" is essentially vegan with the exception of fish. It was the official religion of the imperial court and of the establishment until Haile Selassie was deposed in 1974. One will reply, "Thanks be to God, I am well. In order to greet the elderly first, shake hands or use the right hand and the left hand. The roasted beans are then hand-ground and added to boiling water. Ethiopian cuisine consists of a variety of tasty stews, fresh vegetables, and meat, all served on the traditional bread "injera.". As Ethiopia is an extremely religious country and devoted to a Christian tradition that has stretched back more than a thousand years, all positive answers are prefaced with 'thanks be to God'. Punctuality is not strictly adhered to although considerable lateness is also unacceptable. The major tourist destinations usually have good - some very good - western fare, but in the more remote areas, injera with various meat, vegetables, and "wot" will be your primary option. Providing an abundance of food is a sign of hospitality. When the first cup is finished, the 'jebena' (coffee pot) is refilled with water. Many people also use the word Ewedachihualehu after expressing that they have love for him. Quite often the husbands parents will live with the nuclear family when they get older and can no longer care for themselves. Across genders, men should wait to see if a woman extends her hand. The most common form of greeting is a handshake with direct eye contact. Inhale the aroma of the coffee before sipping. The kissing of the feet expresses deepest subjugation. The kissing of the hand-cross of a priest, which automatically involves bowing, can be understood as a G., but the addressee of this action is more the sacral sphere, in general, than the priest as a per-son. In family contexts, children are expected to go even further with their parents, prostrating themselves fully to the ground and kissing their fathers' or mothers' feet. It is polite to eat with your right hand - the left is considered unclean and therefore you should avoid using it if you can. Terms and Conditions. As a symbol of re-spect or subordination, the left hand supports this gesture by touching the right forearm or elbow. Almost 1/4 of the population depends on the coffee trade as its source of income. It is also not dependent on relative social status. more formal way is to say evzer yestelegn, which simply translates asmay God make you happy. Usually, a few different wots will be served with injera. It is indiscreet to give an actual account of one's health. Greetings should never be rushed. If someone needs direction, dont greet them in the same way they are. There are vari-ous forms of embracing. English is the most widely spoken foreign language and is the medium of instruction in secondary schools and universities. Sugar is put into small cups without handles and the water/coffee mixture is added. In Ethiopia and Eritrea, gesticulatory forms of Greetings vary considerably from region to region and depend largely on kinship and class relations, as well as relative age, gender, religion and other determinants of status and situational roles. If you are invited to an Ethiopians home, bring pastries, fruit, or flowers to the host. As a casual gesture, say, Hello (See you soon). Coffee ceremonies and cafs are ubiquitous. Sidaama women greeting each other; photo 1954/55 by Elisabeth Pauli; courtesy of the Frobenius Institut, Frankfurt am Main (027Pa01737) Between equals or relatives it is common to embrace each other. The second round (called 'tona') is then served. At the beginning of a handshake, maintain eye contact. Family needs are put before all other obligations, including business. The third round (called 'baraka') is served after boiling water is again added to the jebena. Farmers have cultivated coffee using the same methods for hundreds of years and the work is still done almost exclusively by hand. In place of a handshake, they will offer you their wrist; lightly grasp their wrist but do not shake it. Guests are often served tasty morsels by another guest in a process called 'gursa'. Home to the African Union, various United Nations offices, and countless foreign NGOs, Addis Ababa is very much an international city and visitors can enjoy all types of cuisine. Gifts are given with two hands or the right hand only; never the left hand. Various pasta dishes are also widely available. Extend your hands over the basin while water is poured over them. Others adhere to an ancient form of Judaism.The Ethiopian Orthodox Church is proud of its origins. The wot is the traditional dish of Ethiopia and are mixtures of vegetables, meats, spices and sauces. A small gift for the children is always appreciated. Privacy Policy. Very much equivalent to the English greeting 'How are you? Most Ethiopian food is served alongside injera, the staple food of the country. Some Muslim women avoid the hand-shake (and eye-contact) with a stranger or give their hand only through their veil. The handshake is generally much lighter than in Western cultures. In the case of subject and emperor or king and vassal and lord respectively, a full prostration of the inferior expresses his/her total subjugation. Here a similar interpretation can be made. It is considered impolite to refuse. During shoulder-hugging the hand(s) hold the hand(s), arm(s) or shoulder(s) of the other per-son or he/she is embraced. A woman or young boy enters the room to wash and roast the beans over charcoal. In either culture, the comfort in relationship between both parties has been established, and further conversation will proceed much more smoothly. According to folklore, it was discovered by an Ethiopian goat-herder named Kaldi, who noticed that when his goats ate the berries of a certain bush, they became more energetic. Dining Etiquette, Copyright 2022 SimienEcoTours. Since Ethiopia is an extremely poor country, expensive gifts are not the norm. Kissing is also extremely common, regardless of the sex of one's counterpart. The basic gesticulatory elements of Greetings are: shaking or holding hands (one or both hands involved), raising of one or both hands (show-ing palm[s], waving, saluting), hugging, kissing and bowing. On these days, observant Christiansdo not eat or drink until 3pm and also completelyrefrain from eating animal products (except for fish.). Ethiopian greetings are courteous and somewhat formal. The meal ends with ritual hand-washing and coffee. Mainly among Muslims the palms of an elder are kissed by those who received his blessing. whether one is well or not. Do not presume that because food is eaten with the hands, there is a lack of decorum. Your interest in her or his is also indicated by the phrase in which you will use it to express your love. Most traditional Ethiopian food is eaten with the hands; this is done by tearing off a piece of injera, using it to grab some food, and putting it directly in your mouth. Among the Amhara and Tgray traditionally the child up to the age of 15 had to kiss the feet of the father and the servant had to kiss the feet of his lord after washing them. Depending on the relation between the participants, differ-ent parts of the body may be kissed expressing different grades of intimacy or familiarity (fore-head, cheeks, mouth) or subordination/devotion (shoulder[s], knees, hands, feet). A hearty breakfast dish made with fava beans, eggs, tomatoes, onions, and peppers. 'Ato', 'Woizero', and 'Woizrity' are used to address a man, married woman, and unmarried woman respectively. Using his hands, the person places the morsel in the other persons mouth. Take time to inquire about the persons family, health, job, etc. Children will often be seen doing so. Everything there is to Ethiopia from around the web. Hierarchy dictates that the eldest person is the first to take food from the communal plate. People are addressed with their honorific title and their first name. The Kaffa province in Ethiopia is renowned for its coffee. Sometimes a waiter will bring a basin and pitcher to the table. Ethiopian Orthodox Christiansfast two days a week (Wednesday and Friday) and for thetwo months before Easter. It is customary to bow when introduced to someone who is obviously older or has a more senior position. Wots are served on top of injera - the bread will be rolled out into a sheet with the wots placed directly on it; the injera acts simultaneously as a plate and a utensil. In fact, giving a gift that is too expensive may be viewed negatively. The country embraced Christianity in the 4th century, long before Europe. If you are the oldest present, Ethiopians will patiently waituntil you begin to eat. Elders should be greeted first. Ethiopia is famous for its delicious coffee. Besides the bow, other gestures are common during Ethiopian greetings. Haile Gebrselassie Street, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. A woman should offer to help the hostess with the preparation or clearing up after a meal is served. Ethiopia grows a few different of varieties of coffee: Sidamo, Harar, Limu, and Yirgacheffe, all named after the region where they are grown. For example, if the participants in a conversation have not seen each other for a long period, the quantity is increased by repeat-ing oral and gesticulatory G. Different intensi-ties are connected each with a different meaning, ranging from only suggesting the full gesture to its theatrical exaggeration. how do you greet someone in ethiopian language? Hand-shaking as well as raising the hands and showing the open palms in a Christian setting is often combined with bowing of the head or the upper part of the body. Log in or register to write something here or to contact authors. Today, coffee beans are one of the major exports of Ethiopia - constituting around 30% of Ethiopias annual export revenue. This inquiry is made whether the person is family, friend, or stranger. Ethiopian coffee is legendary in reputation and tradition. For friends these kisses will be placed on the cheek, one between each inquiry of health. Ethiopia has about 84 indigenous languages, most of them Afro Asiatic (Semitic, Cushitic, Omotic), plus some that are Nilo-Saharan. You may have to remove your shoes at the door. How are you?" It includes relatives on both sides of the family as well as close friends. There is no place for speeding through greeting or being rushed by another without even looking at them at all. This can be done a couple of times, either with the two right shoulders or with right and left shoulders. Greet each personpresent (starting with oldest first.) The feast of the Epiphany ("Timkat") is the largest festival of the year. Almost always served with honey. Kisses are carried out by touching a body part of the other with both lips. Ethiopians are hospitable and like to entertain friends in their homes. When people marry, they join their families, thus ensuring that there will always be a group to turn to in times of need. After a close personal relationship has been established people of the same sex may kiss three times on the cheeks. The name of the commonly used word is I love you in Amharic, now.