Ethioma: Ethiopian New Year (Enqutatash)

Dancing in the Street

During the celebration, children wear new clothes and go door-to-door in their neighborhood singing. The girls wear dresses and carry daisies and drums with them. They knock on doors and sing for the family that opens the door. In return for their songs, the family will give the kids money or special bread prepared for the new year. While the girls sing around town the boys paint pictures of saints and give them to people. The boys receive the same compensation for their paintings, money or bread. During the new year the history of Ethiopia is remembered, and its importance is acknowledged through Biblical passages and prayer.

Balloons!

I cannot wait for new year's to come around!! It is actually 2001 in Ethiopia right now. The current year according to the Ethiopian calendar is 2001, which began on September 11, 2008 CE of the Gregorian calendar. The year 2002 will begin on September 11, 2009. I absolutely love taking pictures of the celebration. Ethiopian New Year is coming up in September and for those of us who reside in California, the celebration will be San Jose this year. Last year, we celebrated the new year at Lake Merritt, Oakland.