Mariam DaArit: Bridge to Our Community

                        “The bond that links your true family is not one of blood, but of respect and

                           joy in each other's life. Rarely do members of one family grow up under the

                           same roof.”

                                                              Richard Back

Nowadays Eritreans among ourselves express our situation by saying, “we agree to disagree”.  It is true; we disagree in politics and religion.  In politics opposition members built dividing walls amongst themselves and in religion faithful are turning against each other.  But on Saturday June 2 and every year on this date, Eritreans in the Greater Bay Area proved that saying to be wrong.  In fact it was the miracle of Mariam DaArit that proved it to be wrong.

It was ten plus years ago that a handful of Kerenites and their families and friends started celebrating the festival of Mariam DaArit in the heart of Northern California.  The size of participants and quality of activities each year grew exponentially.  This year on June 2 participants were in the neighborhood of five hundred.  Young and old, Christians and Moslems, and members of all political affiliations were all commingled for one cause; peace, love, a day of family, a day of prayer, and a day of fun.

Each year the day starts with prayer and this year Aba Gabriel of the Catholic Church Eritrean community in the Bay Area lead the prayer session.  After prayer food was served and all sorts of games were played.  Mothers brought home prepared food and volunteers brought drinks.  Hot dogs, hamburgers, and barbeques were served the whole day.  All food and services were done by donors and volunteers.

Children games were organized by young volunteers.  Volleyball, piñatas, and other activities were held.  This year there was an Eritrean version of Wheel of Fortune.  Of course children loved the prizes that came with winning.  The wheel of fortune was a center of gravity this year and children were lined up to wait for their turn.  It sounds they had a great time.  Children are a big part of the festivities.  They wait for this feast every year.  A friend told me that the family had other engagement to go but their children forced them to come to Mariam DaArit.  And that tells everything about the power of Mariam DaArit.

Historically, Mariam DaArit was a day where every one comes together.  Christians, Moslems, young, old, woman, and man.  DaArit was not about religion.  It was rather about a culture of peace, love, and fun.  Christians considered it as theirs and Moslems also considered it as theirs.  It was a day of everyone no matter of what your faith is or your origin is.  It was a symbol of unity, love, and peace.  The echo of priests and deacons chanting the hymn, the young beating the kebro and making guaila, and the merchants selling fantas is for the story teller to pass.  And this has been going for decades.

In conclusion, Mariam DaArit concluded this year with accomplishing what it looked the impossible, the bringing of everyone together.  The dividing lines that hamper everyday to our communities were invisible if not existent.  The negations that hunt us everyday were non existent.  One could see the happy faces on every pilgrimage.  One can see the peace and harmony that governed through the day.  And one attendee said, if this was possible to do every six month instead of once a year.  Of course, children were the happiest ones.  They played, won prizes, they ran, ate, have fun, and played more.  They will remember this one until next year.  Everyone is saying to make next year the biggest and the best.  This all was the power of Mariam DaArit.  She brought us together to experience peace and love.  Through history she conducted miracles and we just witness one on Saturday.  She is a bridge to our rifts, differences, and perceptions.  We are all peace loving people except our perceptions.  Can we carry that bridge into our political life?

LET’S WALK THE BRIDGE OF DAARIT!