Irreechaa: Celebrating the Oromo Thanksgiving and Cultural Heritage

As the heavy rainy season of Ganna transitions into the bright and sunny dry season of Birraa, communities across central Ethiopia gather to celebrate Irreechaa. Irreechaa is the traditional Oromo thanksgiving festival that marks the end of the rainy season and the welcoming of the new harvest period. The festival is widely celebrated at Hora Finfinne in the heart of Addis Ababa as well as Hora Harsadi in Bishoftu and other water bodies. Gathering at rivers and lakes, participants bring green grass and fresh flowers to offer thanks for life, health, and peace. The landscape changes visually during this season as river levels recede and hillsides bloom with natural greenery. Irreechaa serves as a living canvas displaying rich Oromo cultural heritage, unity, and deep spiritual connections with nature.