Ethiopian New Year's Eve

What Is Ethiopian New Year’s Eve?

Ethiopian New Year’s Eve is the observance held on the day before Enkutatash, the Ethiopian New Year. Enkutatash, meaning “gift of jewels” in Amharic, marks the end of the long rainy season and the onset of spring in Ethiopia. The eve is a period dedicated to preparation and anticipation for the main New Year’s celebrations.

This observance is primarily significant in Ethiopia, a nation that adheres to its own distinct calendar system. The day is characterised by various domestic and community-based activities that set the stage for the festive occasion of Enkutatash. It functions as a collective day of readiness, ensuring homes and individuals are prepared for the annual renewal.

History and Origins of Ethiopian New Year’s Eve

The origins of Ethiopian New Year’s Eve are intrinsically linked to the history and traditions of Enkutatash itself. The Ethiopian calendar, which governs this holiday, is an ancient system derived from the Coptic calendar, itself based on the older Julian calendar. This calendar is approximately 7 to 8 years behind the Gregorian calendar due to differing calculations of the birth of Jesus Christ.

One historical account connects Enkutatash to the return of the Queen of Sheba to Ethiopia after visiting King Solomon in Jerusalem, an event believed to have taken place around 980 BC. She was greeted with a “gift of jewels,” which is thought to be the origin of the holiday’s name. Furthermore, the timing of Enkutatash coincides with the end of the heavy rains, when the ‘Adey Abeba’ (Bidens macroptera) flowers bloom across the country, symbolising renewal and new beginnings. The Eve therefore represents the culmination of this waiting period and the immediate prelude to this historical and seasonal celebration.

How Ethiopian New Year’s Eve Is Celebrated

Ethiopian New Year’s Eve is primarily a day of preparation for the following day’s festivities. Households undertake extensive cleaning, which includes washing walls, floors, and utensils, symbolising the cleansing of the old year. Many families also purchase new clothes, particularly for children, to be worn on New Year’s Day.

Food preparation is a central aspect of the Eve’s observances. Families begin cooking traditional dishes such as ‘Doro Wot’ (a spicy chicken stew) and baking ‘Injera’ (a sourdough flatbread), which will be consumed on Enkutatash. In the evening, it is common for communities to gather and light bonfires known as ‘Chibo’. This tradition involves piling up logs, often topped with an ‘Adey Abeba’ flower arrangement, and setting them alight to signify the passing of the old year and the arrival of the new. Children and young people often participate in singing traditional New Year songs as the fires burn.

When Is Ethiopian New Year’s Eve?

Ethiopian New Year’s Eve occurs on a fixed date according to the Ethiopian calendar, which is different from the Gregorian calendar used in much of the world. In the Ethiopian calendar, New Year’s Day (Enkutatash) consistently falls on 1 Mäskäräm. Consequently, Ethiopian New Year’s Eve is observed on the final day of the previous month, known as Pagumē.

When translated to the Gregorian calendar, Ethiopian New Year’s Eve typically falls on 10th September. However, in years that are Gregorian leap years (e.g., 2020, 2024), Enkutatash shifts forward by one day, and consequently, its eve also shifts to 11th September. This discrepancy arises because the Ethiopian calendar has 12 months of 30 days each, followed by a 13th month called Pagumē, which has five or six days depending on whether it is a leap year in the Ethiopian cycle.

Ethiopian New Year’s Eve Key Facts