Buhe

Meaning and commemoration

Observed annually by the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church and the Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church, Buhe commemorates the Transfiguration of Jesus on Mount Tabor, referred to in Ge'ez as Debre Tabor. Falling on 19 August, or 13 Nahase in the Ethiopian calendar, the observance stands as an enduring religious and cultural celebration. Families and congregations remember the biblical event through shared communal rites that bring neighbors together in song, light, and fellowship across both nations.

Torches and singing

A central custom of the holiday involves gathering sticks to construct a wooden torch known as a chibo. Neighbors bind these branches tightly into a bundle and set the torch ablaze. As the fire burns, the crowd walks around the chibo while singing traditional melodies. The most prominent song during the gathering is 'Hoya Hoye', where a lead singer delivers verses and the rest of the group responds in a steady, rhythmic chorus.

Bread and blessings

Buhe also brings special activities for young boys in the community. Groups of boys walk through their neighborhoods, stopping outside houses to sing songs of praise for the residents. In return for their singing, households present the boys with freshly baked bread known as mulmul. After receiving the bread, the boys speak blessings over the family, wishing them well and offering good fortune for the upcoming year.

How Buhe is kept

During Buhe, neighbors gather in their communities and tie sticks together into a torch called a chibo. They ignite the bundle and walk around the flames while singing traditional melodies, particularly the rhythmic call-and-response song 'Hoya Hoye'. Meanwhile, groups of young boys travel from house to house, singing praise songs outside front doors. Homeowners give them fresh loaves of mulmul bread, and the boys offer blessings for the household over the coming year.

When and where

Buhe takes place every year on 19 August, which corresponds to 13 Nahase in the Ethiopian calendar. The feast day occurs on this exact date annually across Orthodox parishes.

The tradition is kept in Ethiopia and Eritrea, celebrated within neighborhoods and parishes of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church and the Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church.

What Buhe means

The festival commemorates the Transfiguration of Jesus on Mount Tabor, known as Debre Tabor. The lighting of the chibo torch, the communal singing of 'Hoya Hoye', and the gifts of mulmul bread to singing children express religious devotion, communal ties, and hopes for blessings over households in the coming year.

Questions people ask about Buhe

See also

MeskelA celebration in Ethiopia and Eritrea marking the discovery of the True Cross with a large bonfire.SigdAn Ethiopian Jewish holiday of covenant renewal, fasting, and longing for ZionTimkatThe Ethiopian and Eritrean Orthodox Epiphany celebrating the baptism of JesusEthiopian ChristmasThe Christian Nativity feast, marked by night vigils, white garments and field hockey

Good reading and sources

• Buhe on WikipediaEncyclopedia
• Wikidata recordOpen data

It may contain mistakes. Traditions differ from one family, village and community to the next, and the people who keep them know them best. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-04.