Symbolic meaning of each food served during Shanan ceremonies

Each food served during Shanan ceremonies holds symbolic meaning that represents essential values of care, blessing, strength, and collective support in Oromo culture.

Symbolic Meaning of Shanan Foods

– Marqaa: This central dish, a nourishing barley-based porridge, symbolizes care, healing, and the well-wishes of the community for the mother’s quick recovery. The act of sharing marqaa expresses blessings, communal solidarity, and the idea that motherhood and childbirth are supported by collective effort, not just by the individual woman.

– Milk and Yogurt: These dairy foods stand for purity, the renewal of life, and nurturing, echoing hopes for the child’s wellbeing and healthy growth. Milk’s natural whiteness also symbolizes peace, harmony, and the flow of new life.

– Dhadhaa (Butter): Used in marqaa and sometimes on its own, butter represents abundance, fertility, prosperity, and the bestowing of blessings. It’s sometimes applied on the mother or child as part of prayers for health and fortune.

– Genfo: Another porridge offered for postpartum strength, symbolizing restoration, resilience, and the giving of energy to both mother and child.

– Honey, Flaxseed, Herbs: These are sometimes added to symbolize sweetness in life, protection from harm, and hopes for strength and good milk production, showing the community’s concern for the wellbeing of both mother and newborn.

– Marmaree, Chuko, and Flatbreads: These wheat or barley snacks, served with butter or honey, show hospitality, endurance, and an unbroken connection between tradition and everyday nurturing.

Ritual and Community Context

– The foods are not just for nourishment—they form an expression of collective support, transmitting a blessing from the whole community to the new family.

– Ritual sharing of food marks the transition to motherhood, strengthens the mother emotionally, and publicly reaffirms her value and dignity within society.

In essence, every food prepared and served at Shanan embodies not only nutritional value, but also blessings for health, peace, unity, and prosperity, reinforcing the interconnectedness of all members in Oromo society.