Reflexive Perspective: Tewahido Fasika

Reflexive Perspective:  

 TEWAHIDO FASIKA  

a film by Vincent Moon
 FRENCH

JAPANESE

I was on Facebook this Sunday morning checking my feed. I noticed there was another one of Vincent Moon's films in the feed. I figure I would take a peek at what Vincent has created, and to my surprise this was another masterpiece from Monsieur Vincent! Qui, grand travail (with a French Accent)!

While watching this film, a light bulb lite in my mind; I came up with this keen idea to provide a little historical commentary of what the film represents in culture's environment. So, I am about quickly research the film's ritual history.

However, here is the film that I watched. It's entitled, "Tewahido Fasika." It's only 15 minutes long, but what a wonderful piece of cinematic work captured by Vincent during this Easter Sunday Ritual in Ethiopia.

NOW ETHIOPIA •†•†• TEWAHEDO FASIKA •†•†• (((ፋሲካ))) from Vincent Moon / Petites Planètes on Vimeo.

HISTORY

The Fasika is an festival-holiday celebrating the resurrection of Jesus. In Ethiopia, this Fasika has been a longstanding holiday with the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahido Church. This celebration of Easter marks the calculation of the Western Cultures celebration of Easter, also. Yet, Fasika is a much more significant holiday than Christmas in Ethiopia Orthodox for the resurrection of Christ plays a prudent in role in their theology.

Also, Fasika practice a 56-day fasting, which intensifies their ritual experience; this includes on eating of animal products or meat of any kind (this includes no butter, eggs, or drinking milk). The strict measures of this diet is includes the practitioner eats one meal of vegetables and lentils during the fasting period.

Thus, Good Friday starts off by people attending church, in order, to break the long fast. Attached to this, the faithful congregation will do ceaseless bowing that renders one exhausted in energy. On Saturday night, there is the  Paschal Vigil that has hours of dancing and music into the early morning hours.

At 3:00 am, everyone returns home to prepare breaking the fast.  At about midnight, a chicken is slaughtered in symbolism of the celebration. On Sunday morning, a sheep is slaughtered for the Sunday morning feast.

This slaughtering of the sheep derives from a foreshadowed testament of the Old Testament: Genesis 22. There is the story of Abraham's near sacrifice of his song, which was replaced with a sheep that was sent from the heaven as a substitute for sacrificing his son.

Furthermore, this celebration of Easter in Ethiopia is represent Christ 40 days and 40 nights. The celebration is attached with people having food and locally-brewed alcohol that includes honey.

Just too note, there is a second Fasika which is celebrated, unofficially, during the following week.

PROJECTION 

This cultural celebration from Ethiopia represents the very nature of religious practices all over the world. The hold a significant power over the town or city they reside. This practice is what keeps the tides in this country strong. Furthermore, this represents how the practices done in Ethiopia is no different than the practice of Orthodox Christianity here in the states, Europe or Latin America, etc.

Also, you can accompany the processes of acculturation, enculturation and coculturation (Check out my coculturation blog to explain more) as to what this film represents when the filmmaker, Vincent Moon, accomplishes with his camera, the illusive mechanized iris he carries on his shoulders.

So, if you meet an Ethiopian who tells you stories of how they practiced Easter Sunday, which include rituals of lit candles, dancing, and music in the wee hours of the night; that would follow a sacrificing of a chicken and lamb. You better believe this is the whole truth, and nothing more.

I am glad Vincent made this film. I remember in my interview with him: Reflexive Process: Interview; Vincent mentioned his trip to Ethiopia. This was one of the creations of that trip. This man is on a mission. I just want to share in the fruition of his works and travels. Once again, Vincent Moon represents Filmmaking culture in its majesty. 

Merci, encore une fois Vincent Moon; pour ce film.

La paix!

REFLEXIVITY PHRASE

Coculturation: is the process of acculturation and enculturation by influencing, an individual or a group with initiation into a culture based on their beliefs, attitudes, creeds, politics, and social rules while existing in that culture's environment."

REFERENCES

Fasika. (2013, March 01). Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fasika 

Abeba tours ethiopia-festivals & holidays. (2009-2013). Retrieved from http://www.abebatoursethiopia.com/es/node/64