The Celebration of the Ethiopian New Year (አዲስ ዓመት) in London on 19 Sep 2015

Adults, children and the Elderly Joyfully Celebrated the Ethiopian New Year at Haverstock School, Chalk Farm, in the London Borough of Camden on 19 September 2015. According to the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahido Church 2008 entered on the 12th of September 2015 (Gregorian Calendar).

The Ethiopian Calendar Contains 13 Months and the 13th Month is called PAGUMIE in Amharic. PAGUMIE contains 5 days except St John’s Year contains 6 days once in 4 year cycle as a Leap Year. MESKEREM (Amharic) is the beginning of the New Year and is the Most loved and celebrated Month. Ethiopian New Year also known as INQUTATASH is an important festival in the lives of Ethiopians. After three months of heavy rains the sun comes out creating a beautiful clear fresh atmosphere, all main and tributary Rivers become cleaner from the heavy flooding and flow slower with a medium water level. The highland fields turn to gold and mountains and fields will be decorated by the colourful MASQAL Flowers.

Ethiopians believe that they are reckoning both BC and AD correctly. Each Year has been designated to honor one of the four Evangelists. Namely: John (leap year), followed by the Matthew-year and then by Mark and the Luke-years.

The Ethiopian New Year celebration in London was organised by St Mary of DebreTsion Ethiopian Orthodox Church and provided dinner, refreshing drinks including indigenous Ethiopian traditional drink called TEJ. The wide space of Haverstock School Hall was packed by several hundreds of Ethiopian community members and invited guests. Traditional (oldies) and modern variety of Ethiopian music and live songs were accompanied by exciting ISKISTA and Dance.

Short speeches and Poem (GIXIM in Amharic) were delivered by the organisers and talented volunteers. The united Ethiopian community has been honored for visiting and supporting the desperate Ethiopian and other Migrants at Calais. The gathering further prayed and wished Ethiopians and the rest of the world prosperity, peace, and stability.

Mr Getachew Beshahwured one of the organisers praised successful graduates and students who joined Universities and their families. Finally Melake Birhan Qes Birhanu Bisrat thanked the Ethiopian community in London for visiting destitute brothers and sisters at the Calais migrants’ camp and blessed the gathering.