Habesha New Year, known as Enkutatash in Amharic (translating to “gift of jewels”), marks the end of the heavy rainy season and the arrival of spring. Grounded in the ancient Ge’ez calendar, the holiday is celebrated across Ethiopian and Eritrean communities worldwide as a time of renewal, family, and reflection.
Key Date and Calendar Details
- Gregorian Date: Friday, September 11, 2026.
- Ethiopian Calendar Year: The celebration marks the transition into the year 2019 in the Ethiopian calendar, which runs roughly 7 to 8 years behind the Gregorian calendar due to alternate calculations of the Annunciation.
- Month: It falls on the 1st day of Meskerem, the first month of the Ge’ez calendar year.
Key Traditions and Customs
- Eve Bonfires (Chibo): Celebrations begin on the eve of New Year’s Day. Families build and light chibo—bundled wooden torches—outside their homes to symbolize shedding the past year’s darkness and welcoming new light.
- Morning Customs & Flowers: Children dress in bright traditional attire (Habesha kemis and Netela). Young girls sing traditional songs such as Abebayehosh while handing out fresh adey abeba—bright yellow daisy-like flowers that bloom across the countryside at this time of year.
- Feasting and Gathering: Families gather for elaborate meals centered around doro wat (a rich, spicy chicken stew) served on large platters of injera (sourdough flatbread). Celebrations feature traditional coffee ceremonies (bunna) and home-brewed beverages like tej (honey wine) or tella (traditional beer).
