Ethiopians across the nations on Thursday celebrated the beginning of the new year otherwise called ‘Enkutatash’.
Enkutatash which literary means “a gift of jewel to your finger” marks the Ethiopian New Year based on the Coptic calendar of Julian calculation.
There is an eight-year gap between Ethiopian calendar and that of the one adopted by the rest of the world which follows the Gregorian calendar.
Enkutatash signifies the end of the rainy season and the ushering in of the sunny one. The tradition goes back 3,000 years as it was started to commemorate the Queen of Sheba of ancient Ethiopia and Yemen who visited King Solomon of Israel in Jerusalem.
She had gifted Solomon with 120 talents of 4.5 tons of gold as well as unique spices and jewels. Up on the return of the Queen to Ethiopia, her chiefs welcomed her with enku (jewels). This remained to be a symbol of heralding the Ethiopian New Year.
Religious leaders, President Sahle-Work Zewde, Prime Minister Dr Abiy Ahmed wished all Ethiopians a happy new year.
MG/abj/APA