Addis Ababa’s couples
are continuing to tie the knot at this luminous, warm and breezy time of year. The
streets of Addis Ababa were overly crowded by decorated Wedding Cars which blow
their horns for cheer!
Though every part of the city is hosting many weddings,
there is one place, where almost every wedding couple chooses to take pictures,
spend brief memorable time and to share their happy moments with everyone out in
public. It’s the reputable Ghion Hotel Park.
There aren’t many Addis Ababa married couples, that didn’t
have pictures at this extensive and beautifully green park, if one scan through
their wedding albums. Every year at this
time, this park gets crowded by Addis Ababa’s wedding couples and now it becomes
one of the City’s tourist attractions too.
The past weekend, Tir
25 and 26, 2005 (February 2 and 3, 2013), was the last weekend for the month of
Tir, so there were lots of weddings for the couples who are fortunate enough to
get married on this exceptionally adored month.
Since it is one of the ‘must see’ events of Addis Ababa, I went to the Ghion
Hotel Park on Sunday around 11 a.m., when many brides and bridegrooms spend
sometime there with family and friends before going to their Luncheon
Party.
It was really beautiful day in the Addis Ababa City and
perfect for taking pictures, walking around and enjoy. Then the family, friends
and loved ones start to gather before the couples so that they can set up and
welcome them with cheer in their own chosen ways. I also think it is one of
those moments when you can see many people wearing the famous “Yehabesha Libes”
(the Ethiopian traditional clothe).
The main entertainers for welcoming the brides and the
bridegrooms part was, the traditional orthodox gospel singers who wore wearing
different kinds of robes, with their traditional Ethiopian drum called “Kebero”.
They arrived before the couples and start singing. The resounding sound of the Kebero
(drum) and the song, and their unique moves brings the park alive and of course
gives it an Ethiopian touch which was so mesmerizing.
There are two kinds of weddings, the one with religious based
and the modern one, so there where traditional singers called Azmaris with their
one string fiddle traditional Ethiopian musical instrument called Massinko and simply
an old guy with the Saxophone too. After a little while, the happy couples arrived and their family,
friends welcome them by singing and clapping.
Accompanied by their family and friends the Weeding couples,
started to get into the park to take pictures and was so entertaining.
While the Kodak moment was going on, the gospel singers kept
entertaining.
The Ghion hotel Park turned into one entertainment place in
the city of Addis Ababa. There where many people there besides the guests to
witness this special moment for Addis Ababa.
The month of Yekatit (Feb 8-March 4,2013), is going to be
the next wedding season too, it’s the only month that’s going to host more
weddings till the fasting season starts, when the main Wedding Season Officially
closed up. Couples who decide to tie the
knot this year, ones who didn’t manage to get married in the Month of Tir, which
brought the Wedding Season in Addis Ababa, only have got four precious weekends.
So if you are already in Addis, I say go and see this free
wedding festival at the Ghion Hotel Park which anyone one can attend which is
free of charge. You can sit under the shade to watch or walk around and take
pictures. If you are not in Addis, here
is a glimpse of it but I suggest you visit Addis Ababa at this time of year
where love is in the air.
It’s been a month now since Addis Ababa is being under the
spirit of love and it is continuing to be for the next month too, while the
rest of the world is waiting for St. Valentine Day to celebrate love.
Sending love to the world, From the City of Addis Ababa!
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