Addis Ababa transformed into a vibrant tapestry of color, culture, and consensus on Saturday as the annual Hora Finfinnee Irreecha festival drew thousands of participants to Irreecha Park. International visitors and locals alike praised the event as a powerful symbol of national unity and a living showcase of Ethiopia’s rich cultural heritage.

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    <img src="https://www.ena.et/documents/d/eng/photo_2026-10-03_09-02-12-1-jpg" alt="Crowds gathered at Irreecha Park in Addis Ababa for Hora Finfinnee 2026 wearing traditional Oromo attire" loading="lazy">
    <figcaption>Participants clad in traditional attire gather at Irreecha Park for Hora Finfinnee 2026. (ENA)</figcaption>
</figure>

<h2>A Festival of Gratitude Rooted in the Gadaa System</h2>
<p><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irreecha" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Irreecha</a>, the Oromo people’s annual thanksgiving festival, is deeply rooted in the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gadaa" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Gadaa system</a>—UNESCO-recognized intangible cultural heritage governing democratic governance and social order. The celebration marks the transition from the rainy season (<em>Ganna</em>) to the bright, blossoming season of <em>Birraa</em>, symbolizing renewal, peace, and forgiveness.</p>
<p>This year’s Hora Finfinnee (the Irreecha celebration specific to the capital, Finfinnee/Addis Ababa) emphasized themes of unity, peace, and cooperation among Ethiopia’s diverse communities. The event featured a diverse assembly including <strong>Abbaa Gadaas</strong> (Gadaa leaders), <strong>Haadha Siinqees</strong> (women’s traditional institution leaders), youth groups, residents, and international guests.</p>

<h2>International Visitors Laud 'Welcoming' Atmosphere</h2>
<p>Foreign attendees described the festival as a profound cultural immersion, highlighting the hospitality of the capital city.</p>

<h3>First-Time Experience: "They Helped Me Get a Dress"</h3>
<p><strong>Orhot Payette</strong>, a visitor from North Carolina, United States, attended the ceremony for the first time. In an interview with the Ethiopian News Agency (ENA), she expressed enthusiasm over the communal spirit that extended to personal participation.</p>
<blockquote>
    <p>"I loved the ceremony; it’s my first time! My friends brought me here. I’m very excited—they helped me get a dress and everything,"</p>
    <cite>Orhot Payette, Visitor from USA</cite>
</blockquote>
<p>Payette described Addis Ababa as "wonderful," noting the character of its residents.</p>
<blockquote>
    <p>"Addis Ababa is wonderful! People are loving, kind, generous… I love it here."</p>
    <cite>Orhot Payette</cite>
</blockquote>

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    <img src="https://www.ena.et/documents/d/eng/visitors-1-jpg-1" alt="International visitors Martina Marek and Orhot Payette smiling at the Irreecha festival" loading="lazy">
    <figcaption>International visitors experience the festivities at Irreecha Park. (ENA)</figcaption>
</figure>

<h3>"Inspiring" Energy Across the Capital</h3>
<p><strong>Martina Marek</strong>, a visitor from Poland who had been in Addis Ababa for two weeks prior to the event, expressed admiration for the scale and atmosphere of the celebration.</p>
<blockquote>
    <p>"I’m very glad that I could manage to visit this special celebration on that day. I haven’t had a chance to see such a big event like that, such a big celebration."</p>
    <cite>Martina Marek, Visitor from Poland</cite>
</blockquote>
<p>Marek noted that the festive spirit was not confined to the park grounds but permeated the entire city.</p>
<blockquote>
    <p>"You can see that everywhere, on every street and every corner, something is going on and it’s really rising up, which feels very nice for the country and for the society."</p>
    <cite>Martina Marek</cite>
</blockquote>

<h2>Cultural Continuity on Display</h2>
<figure>
    <img src="https://www.ena.et/documents/d/eng/photo_2026-10-03_07-32-18-1-jpg" alt="Traditional Oromo dancers performing at Hora Finfinnee Irreecha 2026" loading="lazy">
    <figcaption>Traditional dances and songs express cultural continuity at Irreecha Park. (ENA)</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The venue at Irreecha Park pulsed with traditional dances, songs, and the brightly colored attire of the Oromo people. Organizers noted that these expressions serve as vital conduits for <strong>cultural continuity</strong>, connecting younger generations with the ancestral values of the Gadaa system while projecting a message of national consensus.</p>

<h2>Irreecha Observances Continue: Hora Harsadii in Bishoftu</h2>
<p>The Hora Finfinnee celebration marks a key milestone in this year’s Irreecha observances. The festivities continue on <strong>October 4</strong> with the <strong>Hora Harsadii festival in Bishoftu</strong> (Debre Zeit), a lakeside town renowned for its crater lakes and historical significance as a pilgrimage site for the thanksgiving ritual.</p>
<p>As Ethiopia navigates its path toward sustainable peace and development, cultural festivals like Irreecha serve as critical platforms for fostering social cohesion, projecting soft power, and inviting the world to witness the country's pluralistic identity.</p>