When did the Ethiopian New Year in Ethiopia start?
About Ethiopian New Year in Ethiopia Holiday
Greetings! It is a pleasure to be here for the celebration of Ethiopian New Year in Ethiopia.
Ethiopian New Year, celebrated every year on September 11, is the beginning of the year in the Ethiopian calendar. This holiday marks the end of the rainy season and the start of the spring.
This is a special holiday for Ethiopias and has been enjoyed for centuries. Celebrations often consist of traditional ceremonies, music, and dancing. For many, this is a time of reflection and an opportunity to start the new year with a clean slate.
I am honored to join the festivities and witness the unique culture of Ethiopia. I am looking forward to an exciting and memorable Ethiopian New Year!
Ethiopian New Year in Ethiopia
Ethiopian New Year is called Enkutatash and is celebrated on 11 September of every year. Ethiopia follows its own calendar called the Ge’ez calendar. It is sometimes referred to as the Ethiopian calendar or the Julian calendar of Ethiopia, and it follows a unique system to mark the New Year. It is observed as a national holiday in the country.
History and Origin
Enkutatash, meaning the “Gift of Jewels,” is a major celebration in Ethiopia and dates back to ancient times when the Axumite Kingdom flourished in the area. This is considered to be the earliest civilization in Ethiopia, which existed from the 4th century BC to the 6th century AD. According to an ancient tradition and legend, during Queen ZaMedawit’s rule, the Axumite Kingdom was showered with gifts of jewels and precious stones, celebrated as the Enkutatash, or “Gift of the Jewels”.
The Ge’ez calendar is similar to the Coptic calendar, which marks the birth of Jesus Christ as the start of the Ethiopian New Year. This calendar’s origins can be traced to the ancient Egyptians and has thirteen months in a year: twelve of thirty days each and one month of five days, plus six “additional days” belong to the three extra months of Paona, Maagabit and Pagome.
Enkutatash is also celebrated by the Ethiopian Orthodox Church on the 7th of September or on the 11th day of the month of Hedar in the calendar of the church. This day also marks the start of the daily recital of prayers. As per the Ethiopian Orthodox Church calendar, the New Year is celebrated differently from the national New Year and is observed on Meskerem 1 in the Jewish calendar.
Significance and Meaning
Enkutatash is a time for reflection and renewal of spirit. It is tradition and customary to embrace family and friends to say happy new year and exchange gifts as a sign of goodwill. For centuries, Ethiopians have practiced these traditional values, respect and love for fellow humans and animals. It is a time of joy and the beginning of bright new year. Some people visit the graves of their loved ones, remembering them and the memories shared. It is an opportunity to bless each other and make lasting relationships.
Traditions and Celebrations
Enkutatash is the traditional celebration that marks the beginning of a new year in Ethiopia. This celebration is a time of coming together and connecting with culture. Traditional ceremonies honoring the history and culture of Ethiopia and its people are held throughout the country.
In Ethiopia, colorful dances, songs and musical performances are typically performed in celebrations of the New Year. All the performances partake in the spirit and happiness of the new year. Habei tefai, a famous Ethiopian traditional dance, is performed with elaborate costumes, to a combination of drums and singing.
The traditional Enkutatash celebration often includes meals, parties and a variety of games. In urban cities, fireworks are also lit in the night to make the celebration a memorable one.
Geographical Spread
Enkutatash is celebrated mainly in Ethiopia and in the Ethiopian diaspora communities spread across the world. These festivities are enjoyed mainly by Ethiopians living in the Horn of Africa region, such as Ethiopia, Somalia, Djibouti and Eritrea, among other regions.
Though widely celebrated in Ethiopia, some parts of the country differ significantly in how they celebrate the traditional holiday of Enkutatash. For example, in the rural areas, people may light bonfires and dance, while in urban cities the traditional celebrations have been replaced by attending football matches, shopping, and road trips.
During Enkutatash celebrations in the Ethiopian diaspora, different activities are performed by the different communities. In addition to the traditional cultural activities, the different communities usually organize a variety of activities such as fundraisers, bake sales and other community-building activities
Modern Day Observations
The religious aspect of Enkutatash has been maintained over the years and mainly takes shape through prayer and visiting of holy sites during Enkutatash celebrations.
Today, Enkutatash is celebrated in modern ways such as social media campaigns, TV commercials, and other popular events. Although there are some traditional rituals practiced such as visiting family members, exchanging gifts and traditional foods, and attending festivals, the digital environment that we live in today has had an evidence on how people celebrate the Holiday.
One big change in modern celebrations is the high influx of tourists coming to Ethiopia to partake in beautifying the celebration and the country’s unique culture.
Interesting Facts or Trivia
1. Enkutatash marks the start of Ethiopia’s rainy season, which is a blessing for farmers and a time for celebration.
2. The traditional Ethiopian New Year comes to an end on Selassie (Genna), which is a popular traditional footracing game and is celebrated on the 7th day of the month of Teksas.
3. In Ethiopia, selote, a traditional holiday sweetbread, is traditionally prepared in celebration of the New Year. Selote is made with healthy ingredients such as wheat flour, butter, dates, cardamom, cloves, sesame seeds, milled oats and raisins.
4. One of the most important ritual held during Enkutatash celebrations in Ethiopia is the cooking and consumption of special Ethiopian porridge during the morning.
5. Enkutatash is known by different names in different parts of Ethiopia, with some locals calling it “Zenababay,” which means “Thinking Day.”
6. Another activity that is usually organized during the Enkutatash celebration is the singing of the traditional Ethiopian song known as the Meskel song.
7. In urban Ethiopian cities, the celebrations have grown in popularity with the introduction of ice-skating, cinemas and concerts.
8. Each year, the Enkutatash Festival is celebrated in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, with a ceremonial parade taking place through the city’s streets.
9. In some traditional Ethiopian households, people celebrate Enkutatash by having picnics in the countryside, enjoying traditional snacks and sharing stories.
10. The holiday of Enkutatash is steeped in religious and cultural traditions, and is an important part of Ethiopian identity.
Holiday Wishes
1. Wishing you and your loved ones a wonderful new year full of joy and bliss.
2. May you experience a year of growth, abundance, prosperity, and happiness.
3. Best wishes for a beautiful and enchanting Enkutatash.
4. May God’s blessings fill your life with peace, prosperity, and joy all year long.
5. Wishing you a happy and healthy new year full of laughter and joy.
Holiday Messages
1. This Enkutatash brings peace, love, and joy to you and your family.
2. Cherishing the warmth of new beginnings and a prosperous future.
3. Wishing you the best start to a new year!
4. May your life be filled with joy and fulfillment in the new year.
5. Wishing you an amazing start to the new year!
Holiday Quotes
1. “The start of a new year brings the promise of brighter days ahead.” – Unknown
2. “We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year’s Day.” – Edith Lovejoy Pierce
3. “Make things happen, seize the moment, celebrate small victories, and live with intention. Welcome the new year.” – Unknown
4. “What the new year brings to you will depend a great deal on what you bring to the new year.” – Vern McLellan
5. “Cheers to a new year and another chance for us to get it right.” – Oprah Winfrey
Other Popular Holiday Info
Although the culture of Ethiopia has been influenced by many other countries, Enkutatash still continues to remain an important part of the identity and pride of Ethiopians. For many Ethiopians living in the diaspora, the holiday is a great way to stay connected with their cultural heritage and roots.
This holiday is a great opportunity to learn more about Ethiopia’s culture, traditions, and the unique lifestyle of Ethiopians. Ethiopian New Year is an important and meaningful celebration that is cherished by many Ethiopians. It is a national holiday that Ethiopians look forward to and it’s a time to rejoice and reflect on the stories of past and present.
Wishing you a very happy Enkutatash!
Ethiopian New Year in Ethiopia Also Called
Enkutatash. Enkutatash is celebrated on September 11th, which marks the beginning of the Ethiopian New Year. It is celebrated with music, traditional dancing and local customs. There is usually a large public celebration in the main cities of the country, with fireworks, food and traditional clothing.
FUN FACT:
In year 750 BC, Ethiopian New Year in Ethiopia is celebrated on September 11 for the first time.HOLIDAY CHECK: We strive for accuracy and fairness. But if you see something that doesn't look right, please click here to contact us!