Task 12_Celebrations

 KARO'S HARVEST CELEBRATION
(KERJA TAHUN)

Year Work is a celebration of the Karo tribe in Karo Regency. It is said that this year's work is a routine activity every year which is usually carried out after the rice planting event in the fields is over. The celebration is part of thanksgiving to the Creator because the rice planting activity has been completed. Accompanied by prayers that the rice plants will be blessed so that they are free from pests and produce an abundant harvest. This moment, which involves all the villagers, is also used by young people as a place to find a mate. Each year's work event is usually enlivened by the guro-guro aron drum, a traditional Karo dance event involving young couples. 

Every sub-district in Tanah Karo celebrates merdang merdem in different months. I take as an example, the Munte District celebrates the work of the year on the 26th day of the Karo calendar, which usually falls in July. That said, the village party was so lively that the celebration lasted up to six days where each day had a different meaning:

1. First day, cikor-kor.

This day is the first part of preparations for the year's work which is marked by activities to look for "kor-kor", a type of insect that is usually found in the ground. Generally located under the trees. On that day, all residents went to the fields to look for kor-kor to serve as a side dish for that day.

2. Second day, cikurung.

As is the case on the first day, the second day is marked by activities to find brackets in the fields or rice fields. Kurung is an animal that lives in wet land or rice fields, usually used as a side dish by the Karo people.

3. Third day, ndurung.

The third day is marked by searching for nurung, a name for fish, in the rice fields or rivers. On that day, the people of the same village ate fish as a side dish. The fish caught are usually goldfish, catfish or sebakut, crabs, eels.

4. The fourth day, mantem or cut.

This day is the day before the peak celebration day. On that day the villagers slaughtered oxen, buffaloes and pigs to serve as side dishes.

5. Fifth day, matana.

Matana means the peak day of celebration. On that day all residents visit each other relatives. Every time you visit, all the menus that have been collected since the day of cikor-kor, cikurung, ndurung, and mantem are served. At that time all residents were happy. The harvest has been going well and rice planting activities have also been completed. The center of the celebration is usually in the square or so-called los, a kind of hall where the party is celebrated. The event was enlivened by a guro-guro aron drum where young people who had been decorated with traditional clothes performed traditional dances. The celebration is not only celebrated by villagers but also relatives from outside the village are also invited to add to the lively atmosphere. On that day the hardest work was eating. Because every time you visit a relative's house, you must eat.

6. Sixth day, nimpa.

That day was marked by the activity of making cimpa, a typical Karo food, commonly called lepat. The basic ingredients for cimpa are wheat flour, brown sugar, and grated coconut. The spleen is usually served as an additional dish after eating. The year's work feels incomplete without the presence of cimpa. For other sub-districts in Tanah Karo, the nimpa activity is replaced by cringing, namely the activity of making rires which in Indonesian is called lemang. Cimpa or lemang lasts quite a long time, it is still good to eat even though it has been two days. Therefore cimpa or rires are suitable as souvenirs for guests when they come home.

7. Seventh day, rebu.

It was the last day of a series of festivities six days earlier. On that day there were no activities carried out. The guests have returned to their original places. All residents stay at home. Visits have been completed. Going to the fields or fields is also prohibited on that day. Like the meaning of rebu itself, which means not reprimanding one another, that day is a day of self-soothing after six days of partying. Various impressions remain attached to the hearts of each villager. Tomorrow is waiting to return to activities as usual.