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On June 10, 2002 I wrote the following: This is not Daarit; but it is. Many kids. More kids than grown ups. Bzhu wetabazehu. Be fruitful and multiply, said the good book. If only this was on the grounds of the real Mariam Daarit! It is San Jose, June 9, 2002. This year, again, it was not Daarit but it was Mariam Daarit. I am almost a week late in writing this but then, we celebrated the Day a week late from the real Daarit Day. And my calendar pulled a fast one on me: I didnt live this last week; it just went by unnoticed.
It was a family day. A relaxing park-day. It was a nostalgic day. Yet, it was a spiritual day. This year, if only the wishes of those present are fulfilled, many ideas of tourist enterprises were added. Here are the highlights of the Day. 1- Abba Gebrael started prayers at 12 PM. An orthodox priest accompanied Abba Gabriel.
2- Childrens game: "Hitting The Pugniata" and chasing the candies, volleyball, and rope pulling.
3- Adult game: volleyball.
4- Food and drinking time, plenty of it, almost endless conversation.
5- Closing prayers at & PM.
6- Election of next years preparatory committee- a bigger and more attractive festival
Why are you so obsessed with Mariam Daarit?, people ask me. They dont know. I am obsessed with what it represents. Three things: 1) though a catholic event, the almost non-denominational worldly celebration of the Day. 2) the denominational spiritual celebration- the traditions and the procession. 3) the Boabab tree. Mariam Daarit is a symbol of a people with one destiny. Happy together and sad together. A non-seeable commodity that can do a lot of good to Eritreans and maybe, even to the whole humanity- if only there was a way of exporting it. Religious festivities do not have to be dry; Daarit is far from dry. Simply put, it is for all. It represents unity in its purest forms. It represents diversity in its most colorful form. It is IT. The spiritual part is, like all religious days, a somber and peaceful. event. The incense and colorful dress of the clergy the solemn gaze of the faithful says it all. The flocking of all age groups and genders from everywhere and the loyalty to the event by many Kerenites, who make sure to be in Keren for that day by traveling any distance possible, makes it A Keren Day: Special. The Boabab Tree. Aha. This is the most important part. If there was a leader of the trees of the Savannah, it would be the great Baobab tree. In most parts of Africa, this is the social center. If in America, the Boabab tree would be called Capitol Hill for under its shades, social issues are discussed, negotiations are carried-out and pacts made. The great tree is so stubborn. Like a camel, its trunks, which can grow to be 50 feet in diameter, act like a sponge and stores huge volume of water for use in times of draught. It lives for over 500 years majestically standing about 75 feet high. It houses the Mariam. If that wouldnt obsess me, nothing would. And what does it all stand for? The Baobab of Daarit is a symbol of patience, perseverance and strength that defies nature. It goes thirst and never dies. It ages but never gets old. It stands majestically competing against Zeban, Lalemba, Senkil and EtAber. They all say defiantly in one voice: who among us will stay standing at last? They all will stay when the dark smoke evaporates never to be again. Happy Mariam Daarit Day and many more to come.
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