The Ethiopian New Year is on September 11, if it is a leap year, this day falls on September 12. According to the calendar, this is the first day of the first month called 1 Meskeram.
The Ethiopian Calendar was initially a Solar calendar based on the Egyptian and Julian calendars brought to Ethiopia by missionaries. This calendar comprises 12 months of 30 days each, and the thirteenth month “Pagume”, which has five or six days.
The word Pagume is adapted from the Greek word “epagomen”, which means “days that are missed in the calculation of a year.” A year in the Ethiopian calendar is 365 days, six hours, two minutes and 24 seconds.
Every four years, these six hours become 24 and thus create one extra day for a leap year. Every 600 years, two minutes and 24 seconds add up to a full day and make the seventh day.
The word “Enkutatash” means “gift of jewels” in Amharic. Its name comes from Queen Sheba of ancient Ethiopia and Yemen, who, upon returning from her journey to King Solomon, filled her treasury with jewels. It is also a celebration marking the close of the rainy seasons and the commencement of spring.
Preparations and festivities for Enkutatash actually begin a week in advance. Every family lights wooden torches called “chibo” at midnight on New Year’s Eve.
It marks the arrival of a new sunny season, immediately after the long rainy season is over.
Enkutatash is commemorated with church services, traditional music and dance, family gatherings, and the exchanging of gifts. In both Ethiopia and Eritrea, colorful decorations and traditional food mark this joyful day in celebration together.
Enkutatash is one of the most significant festivals of Ethiopian and Eritrean culture, combining the sense of community and respect for traditional heritage, symbolizing renewal. It is a religious day as well as a traditional one, celebrated with a family feast and the exchange of gifts.
With the facility of modern digital media and the Internet, cultural celebrations like Enkutatash are celebrated far and wide. In 2007, the Ethiopian African Millennium Group spearheaded the celebration with the collaboration of the Starbucks Coffee Company and the African-American Civil War Museum.
The attended number of the celebration at the Washington Monument numbered 30,000 people and Enkutatash is now celebrated in large American cities such as San Jose and Seattle.
Celebrate Enkutatash 2024 with wishes, images, and greetings marking Ethiopian New Year and cultural traditions.
Best Enkutatash 2024 Wishes, Images, and Messages
Happy Enkutatash! May this new year bring you endless happiness and success.
Wishing you a prosperous Enkutatash filled with love, joy, and peace.
May the coming year be as bright and colorful as the flowers of Enkutatash.
Happy Ethiopian New Year! May all your dreams and goals come true in 2024.
Sending you warm wishes for a year full of health, wealth, and prosperity.
May your Enkutatash be as joyful and vibrant as a traditional Ethiopian celebration.
Happy New Year! May the spirit of Enkutatash bring you new opportunities and success.
Wishing you and your family a year of happiness, health, and great achievements.
May this new year bring you the strength to overcome challenges and the wisdom to seize opportunities.
Happy Enkutatash! May your heart be filled with the joy and warmth of this special occasion.
May the blessings of Enkutatash brighten your days and enrich your life.
Ethiopian New Year Greetings, Quotes, and Sayings
Wishing you a fantastic year ahead, filled with love, laughter, and cherished moments.
Happy Ethiopian New Year! May you find happiness in every corner of your life.
May the new year bring you success in every endeavor and happiness in every moment.
Happy Enkutatash! May your journey in 2024 be as colorful and joyous as this festival.
Wishing you a year filled with positive changes, joy, and beautiful memories.
May the new year be a new chapter of success, happiness, and prosperity for you.
Happy Ethiopian New Year! May your life be blessed with love, health, and fortune.
Sending you warm Enkutatash wishes for a year full of laughter, love, and great achievements.
May the spirit of Enkutatash fill your heart with joy and your year with success and happiness.
