Happy Enkutatash

Tonight we will be driving 2 1/2 hours to celebrate Ethiopian New Year with friends and family in Spokane. There will be about 25 Ethiopian kiddos and their families in attendance. We are looking forward to spending some time getting to know some of these local families as well as letting the kids see that there are other families just like ours. :)

Enkutatash is the first day of the New Year in Ethiopia. It occurs on Meskerem 1 on the Ethiopian calendar, which is September 11 (or, during a leap year, September 12) according to the Gregorian calendar. The new current year according to the Ethiopian calendar is 2001.
Literally, Enkutatash means 'Gift of Jewels'. The date traditionally marks the end of the season of heavy rains and is more recently or historically set by the return of the Queen of Sheba to Ethiopia after her visit to King Solomon in Jerusalem. It also marks the commemoration of Saint John the Baptist. Enkutatash is not only a religious holiday but it is also a day for young boys and girls to sing and dance and for exchanging New Year greetings among urban and rural inhabitants. (Thanks, Nancy... your explanation was fabulous)

I forgot that part of the tradition is to give children a small gift on Enkutatash... sorry kids!

HAPPY ENKUTATASH!