Happy New Year

Instead of blogging about how depressing September 11 can be, I thought it would be fun to learn a little about Enkutatash. That's the Ethiopian New Year, which lands on our September 11th. In Ethiopia it is now the year 2001, they follow a Coptic calendar of 13 months. 12 have thirty days, and one has only 5 (6 in a leap year). The first month, Meskarem starts on our September 11.

The photo at right is Hanah's Hope in Ethiopia. Last year they had a big party for the Millenium, there is a photo on the AGCI website of all the older kids partying that night. I doubt they got to stay up 'til midnight though, I hear jammie time starts around 5pm, with 50-65 kids you can't blame them.

Enkutatash means the "gift of jewels". When the Queen of Sheba returned from her visit to King Solomon in Jerusalem, her chiefs welcomed her by replenishing her treasury with inku or jewels. August and September are considered the rainy season in Ethiopia, and the New Year celebration comes just as it is becoming Spring and the rainy season usually ends abruptly. From what I can tell, it is always either rainy season or drought season in Ethiopia.

For Enkutatash, traditionally children dress in new clothes and dance through thier villages, giving out flowers, garlands and tiny paintings. In the evening families light bonfires and there is more singing & dancing. More recently, Enkutatash has become the season for exchanging formal new year greetings and cards among urban Ethiopians - as opposed to the traditional bouquet of flowers.