Ethiopia/ New year: The country officially enters in 2018
Ethiopia celebrated the arrival of the year 2018 this week, following its own ancient calendar which lags seven years behind the Gregorian system. The occasion, known as Enkutatash, symbolizes both the new year and the end of the rainy season, bringing a spirit of renewal and optimism.
A key tradition involves the bright yellow adey ababa flowers, which bloom wild around the capital, Addis Ababa.
Sold in small bunches for about 50 birr ($0.35), they are used in traditional coffee ceremonies alongside freshly cut grass.
Coffee originally from Ethiopia’s highlands is roasted, ground, and brewed in a clay pot as part of the festive rituals.
Families gather for feasts featuring spicy chicken stew (doro wat) served with injera, a sourdough flatbread. Those with larger budgets opt for mutton or even oxen, which can cost up to 300,000 birr.
This year’s celebration carried added significance, coming just days after the formal launch of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD).
The project has inspired a renewed sense of national pride and unity, emphasizing hope and progress as Ethiopia steps into a new year.
