The Ethiopian New Year 2018

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed extended his greetings to Ethiopians for the 2018 Ethiopian New Year, highlighting the beginning of national revival and the inauguration of the GERD. The Ethiopian New Year is called Enkutatash (Enkutatash in Amharic means "gift of jewels." This name comes from the Ethiopian tradition that the Queen of Sheba returned to Ethiopia after visiting King Solomon in Jerusalem, and her followers celebrated her return by giving her jewels. Enkutatash) and falls on September 11 according to the Ethiopian calendar (September 12 in leap years). The New Year marks the end of the rainy season and the beginning of the new year, which according to the Ethiopian calendar is approximately 7 years and 8 months behind the Gregorian calendar. Enkutatash celebrations are traditional and rich in symbolism: Fresh grass and flowers (especially yellow meskel flowers) are carried into homes to cover the floors. People greet each other with the wish "Melkam Addis Amet!" (Happy New Year). Children receive new clothes as gifts, which plays a particularly important role among poorer families. Honey wine is consumed, coffee beans are roasted, and families feed each other the best foods as a sign of love. The festival also has historical significance: It commemorates the return of the Queen of Sheba from King Solomon's visit, where she received a gift in the form of a jewelry box ("Enkutatash" = jewel gift). It is a religious and secular celebration with gifts, bouquets of flowers, and deep roots in Ethiopia's cultural and spiritual life. In summary, the Ethiopian New Year is a vibrant tradition that celebrates the connection between nature, religion, and community, marking the beginning of a new year in the Ethiopian calendar. Now, a word about the GERD. The inauguration of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) in Ethiopia took place on September 9, 2025. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed presided over the ceremonial opening of the facility, which is considered Africa's largest hydroelectric power plant with a capacity of over 5,000 megawatts. This power plant will enable Ethiopia to more than double its energy production and provide electricity to over 120 million people. The project symbolizes Ethiopia's quest for energy independence, economic growth, and regional leadership. It was financed primarily through the Ethiopian people's own resources rather than through foreign loans, thus serving as a model for infrastructure development. The ceremony was attended by numerous African heads of state and government and leading international representatives. Despite the GERD's significant importance, diplomatic tensions arose both before and after its construction, particularly with Egypt and Sudan, who expressed concerns about the distribution of water in the Nile. However, Ethiopia emphasizes that the project will not have any significant negative impacts on its neighboring countries and is committed to dialogue and cooperation. With its enormous water storage capacity of 74 billion cubic meters and an annual electricity production of approximately 15.7 terawatt hours, the GERD represents a milestone for Africa's sustainable development and is intended to position Ethiopia as a major energy exporter in the region. @https://www.thereporterethiopia.com/46944@ / @https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/boards-policy-regulation/ethiopia-opens-africas-largest-hydroelectric-dam-egyptian-protest-2025-09-09/ @https://www.menschenfuermenschen.ch/de/neujahr-in-aethiopien @ https://xn--thiopien-zza.de/land-leute/feste-und-feiertage/ @https://www.afrika.de/blog/aethiopien-enkutatash-aethiopisches-neujahr-und-das-ende-der-regenzeit/ @https://www.menschenfuermenschen.at/projekte/kultur-und-tradition/ @https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%84thiopischer_Kalender