This is an inspirational time of the year because of the proximity of the major holidays of the Abrahamic religions.
We have just concluded Ramadan and now we are celebrating the Ethiopian New Year. Enkutatash is the word for new year in Amharic the official language of Ethiopia. The new year is also known as Ri’se Awde Amet (Head Anniversary) in Ge’ez, an appellation preferred by the Ethiopian Orthodox Church.
It occurs on September 11 in the Gregorian calendar, except for leap years, when it occurs on September 12. The Ethiopian calendar year 1998 ‘Amätä Məhrät (“Year of Mercy”) began on September 11, 2005. However, the Ethiopian years 1996 and 1992 AM began on September 12, 2003 and 1999, respectively.
This date correspondence applies from the Gregorian years 1900 to 2099. Generally, because every fourth Ethiopian year is a leap year without exception, while Gregorian years divisible by 100 are not leap years, a set of corresponding dates will thus apply only for one century. However, because the Gregorian year 2000 is a leap year, then in this case the correspondences continue for two centuries. (Source: Wikipedia)
The Ethiopian New Year will be followed by the Jewish High Holidays of Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur. We honor all of our readers by acknowledging and celebrating their holy holidays and we thank them and wish them happiness and joy on during these perennial festivals.
28/03/2012 at 12:57
Hi There Ayanna Nahmias,
Along the same lines, July 4 is fast approaching – the day we traditionally celebrate the birth of our nation. Thousands of homes fly OId Glory and our patriotism is exhibited on every block. But why is it only one or two days each year that we remind ourselves that we are all part of the greatest nation on earth?
Cheerio
28/03/2012 at 14:14
Hi, thank you for visiting the site and writing your comment. Before I respond with the reasons why I don’t celebrate this day, I would like to write the following:
For many people who are American immigrants, the 4th of July may represent independence from the oppression from which they fled.
For many Americans it may represent a holiday during which they are free from the work-a-day grind and and get to watch fantastic firework displays (BTW, I fall into this category).
For just as many celebrating this ‘holiday’ is an expression of their true, deep, and abiding admiration for a country which they feel is the greatest in the world.
With regard specifically to the 4th of July, I don’t celebrate it for two reasons – first, I didn’t grow up with it because we lived outside of the States for a large part of my childhood; second, as the daughter of a Pan-African Muslim, this holiday was antithetical to his belief in the autonomy of African men in America to shape their destinies independent of the ‘dominant’ culture.
Thus, “Independence Day” did not represent independence for African Slaves or Indigenous peoples who lived in America prior to the arrival of the European colonists. This federal holiday was established in 1776 to commemorate the adoption of the Declaration of Independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain. A country with a foreign policy mandate to colonization any territory against which it waged war and conquered. British Imperialist, were notoriously known to practice cruelty and racism against the any Indigenous peoples of the territories they claimed.
Though America achieved independence from Britain, it would take nearly a hundred years for these same freedoms to be afforded, through legislation only, to African slaves. The thirteenth amendment which abolished slavery was passed in 1865.
This does not mean I believe that people should not celebrate the 4th of July. All I can say that it is nice to live in a nation where one has the choice of celebrating or not celebrating this ‘holiday’ without fear of condemnation.
Enjoy!
30/09/2011 at 23:40
12/09/2011 at 18:06
blessed ramadan