The Eleventh Month
Hamele
The eleventh month is known as “Hamele” which is derived from the word “Hamel” meaning “Leaf, foliage, grass, bushfire, sprout, plant,” and “Hamele” means “greenish.” (Aleka Kidane Wolde, page 449)
The naming of this month is derived from the earth which got dew of heaven and the clear natural change. The land which dried and degraded in the winter season will be wet and greenery at the beginning of summer by the rain.
As the Month of Hamele is the starting of the winter, on the smoothened land by the farmer to plant seed, earth will be beautify by greenery. Sprout, grass, cabbage, salad and greenish will grow on it. The month of Hamele is a season where thunder is heard, bawled, the sky covered by clouds and rain pours constantly.
The time from the beginning of winter up to the middle of it is known as “Month of Seed.” It is told, sung and praised about God’s endowment of clouds, rain for earth and in return getting greenish.
The time from Hamele 22 up to Nehassie 13 is called “Thunder.” Earth is covered by the cloud formed by the sea’s evaporation. The waterfall from the heavy rain will make the land shake. The cliff is destroyed. As it is told as, “Behold, there arise a little cloud out of the sea, like a man’s hand. And he said, Go up, say unto Ahab, Prepare thy chariot, and get thee down, that the rain stop you not.” (1 Kings 18:44)
The prophet of God, Saint David has said, about the natural occurring in month of Hamele, “Whatsoever the Lord pleases that did He. … He cause the vapors to ascend from the ends of the earth; he make lightning’s for the rain; he bring the wind out of his treasuries.”; (Psalm 135: 6-7); “It was white as snow in Salmon.” (Psalm 68:14)
Feasts we commemorate and celebrate are to be mentioned in the month of Hamele. Let us see the major ones.
1. Hamele 5 is the martyrdom day of Apostles Saint Peter and Saint Paul.
2. Hamele 7 is the honorable holiday where Holy Trinity was revealed to Father Abraham by the form of three elderly people near the great trees of Mamre.
• It is also the departure day of Ethiopian Saint Aba Giorgis Zegasicha.
3. Hamele 19 is the honorable feasts of Archangel Saint Gabriel, where he saved Saint Cyriacus and Julitta from boiling water.
4. Hamele 21 is the holiday of Archangel Saint Uriel, in which he was appointed as an archangel.
5. Hamele 26 is the departure day of Saint Joseph the elderly, who was the keeper and servile of Holy Mother Saint Mary.
May the prayer, intercession and mediation of Saints be with us; Amen!