When a young person reaches adulthood there is an initiation ceremony called bull jumping. Several days before the ceremony, initiators pass out invitation in a form of a blade of dried grass knotted in place to indicate the day of on which the ceremony will began. It takes three days but the final day is the most important one. In the late afternoon, about thirty bulls are lined up. The naked male youth rushes towards the animals and vault on to the first bulls back. The youth then runs across the back of the line of animals’ back .At the end of the line, the youth jumps dawn, turns round and repeats the performance in the reverse direction. 

The Halaba special woreda is one of the 14 zones and 4 special woredas which are the constituent elements of the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Regional State (SNNPRS) .The administrative center of the Halaba special woreda, Kulito Town is located at a distance of 245 kilo meters south of Addis Ababa via Butajira, 315 kilo meters via Shashemene; and 87 kilo meters North West of the regional center, Hawassa . Halaba Serra Holy Day is an occasion in which all Halaba .Demonstrate their unity, solidarity, and integrity. Since 1996 E.C, the Halaba Serra has been celebrated as a big Cultural Holy Day every two years at the woreda level in Kulito town and every year at the local or Kebele level at the end of “Mangesa” and at the beginning of The Halaba New Year at January or “Wotoota”. The main objective of the Serra Holy Day celebration is to promote the social, cultural, economic and political developments of the Nationality. It helps to develop the physical and spiritual values of the nationality and to reflect and introduce to the country and to the world in general. It also helps to record and preserve the cultural, natural, and historical heritages to the new generation (Woreda Culture, Tourism and Public Information Office, 2006 E.C). On the occasion various cultural shows are such as, “Yaka”- Youth’s dancing; “Kala”- Women’s dancing is performed. Miss Halaba or Halaba beauty (Halabi Higamie) contest is made; model farmers and contest winners‟ are awarded; different inauguration are made. Some photographs of the 2006 E.C Serra Holy Day celebrations are shown below in the gallery

Ivangadi

In the Bena Hammer and Karoo the Ivangadi dance takes place at night when the grain in the field becomes ripen enough to be eaten and during the festivity. The Ivangadi or dance of night is a court ship ritual that involves all the village youth. The court ship begins by the dance of girls approaching the partner they have chosen, who also demonstrates his interest by dancing with her. The dance lasts for hours and it attracts visitors.

The Gidicho people are found in Gamo Gofa zone near Lake Abaya closer to Arbaminch town. Here is a mention of their known Meskel (finding of the True Cross) festivity with some words. Meskel is a very popular holiday among several nations, nationalities and people of Ethiopia. The Gurage, the Gamo and other nationalities in SNNPRS, including the Gidicho people meskel is the most popular holiday celebrated colorfully.

In Gidicho,sembo lolita or a bird is believed to ring a bell and heralds for the coming of Meskel. When a flock of birds start to fly from north to south in September, the children usually make a circle, raise their hands and express the coming of the Meskel and sing a song in their vernacular: Sembo lita so yada (2X) Bala dubine so yada Shire amines so yada,

 

Its free translation goes as follows “Birds have asked for meat. Let us prepare foods and drinks right now as Meskel is approaching. The other sign that is believed to herald the arrival of Meskel in Gidicho society is the appearance of a full moon in September. In this Event duties would be divided based on sexes in all age and social strata. Family- heads arrange grains for consumption to the ceremony. They also provide their family member with new cloth for the holiday. The women grind the grains and accumulate flour, also they collect firewood, buy traditional cooking materials etc , wash cloths, and decorate their huts and execute other things. The male youth usually prepare dama-sticks and they hold the stick during their cultural dance of the Event.

 

Before the day of meskel the clan leaders and other influential persons from the community look for a fatten ox for the celebration. When they get their chosen ox, they ask the owner to sell it at a reasonable cost. By the custom, the owner has to agree even they request to pay the price of the ox later when cotton reaches harvest.

 

During the first day of meskel, the Gidicho eat shore (porridge). All take their own shore to the wono home. Then, they start to serve the porridge when wono bless it. The next day is the day of serving meat. All together attend and at Sengon the wono would slaughter the bull and bless the meat to be eaten. This day is a special day for boys.

 

They hold a bundle of wood with fire and run to ignite the dammera (local name for the sticks and woods that would be erected at public arena for bonfire purpose). The third day is known as the day of ka hambersse. It is a day whereby women are given full freedom to meet together, sing, dance, etc. If in case, her husband, father, or brother blame or hit and disappoint the woman at this Event, all the women together forward their charge before the wono and He would punish the wrong-doer and would request the wrong-doer to beg a pardon before the disappointed woman.