Fichee Chembelala is a two-day celebration dating back thousands of years, which the Sidama people observe to usher in New Year. The festival takes place at the Sidama Cultural Centre, with the usual flair and bang that accompanies this holiday. Fichee Chembelala is inscribed under UNESCO as one of the intangible world heritages. Fichee Chembelala is one of the main events on the calendar of Hawassa city. A multitude of people are visible on the streets to celebrate the Fichee (Eve) and Chembelala (New Year) festivity of the Sidama region.
What makes Fichee Chembelala so special from any other celebration in Ethiopia is that the exact date of the commemoration is not known by the average person, until elders of the community determine and announce when the celebration will occur. These elders are referred to as Ayantos. Fichee Chembelala gathers not only the people of the region, but also the country and world.