Ethiopian New Year. Enkutatash; “The Gift of Jewels.” 2014. We as a nation have always celebrated our own version of events, such as Christmas, and Meskel. But New Year’s is one of the most important holidays that we celebrate because the days become sunnier and the flowers begin blooming. Celebrating it on September 11th in the Gregorian calendar, here in Ethiopia it’s Meskerem 1st which is the first month of the year. The Ethiopian calendar consists of 13 months; 12 months that are 30 days and the 13th-month being Pagume, which lasts for 5-6 days depending on the year. Being behind the world by 7 years and 8 months, Ethiopia uses the lunar calendar to celebrate this holiday as well. Once every year during September, the amount of daytime and nighttime hours become almost the same all around the world.
This is one of the very few holidays that is all-inclusive, meaning that all religions and all tribes partake in the celebration. It starts in the morning, with young children going around their neighbourhoods singing Abebayehosh while beating a drum. We grant them small gifts such as money or bread to take home to their families. The morning celebrations also include eating injera be wot, (specifically Doro wot). A coffee ceremony takes place after the morning celebrations, consisting of popcorn, and frankincense (itan in Amharic). This is a time to spend with family and to welcome the new year to come. And after the long hard year, everyone’s had, it’s important to push on, and hope for better things.