Our Cultures

A New Year in September? Welcome to Ethiopia’s Enkutatash

Selamawit Mulugeta

9/26/2025 

Most of us are used to celebrating New Year’s on January 1 with fireworks, countdowns, and maybe a late-night pizza run. But in Ethiopia, people get to party for a fresh start in September! Their New Year’s celebration is called Enkutatash, which means “gift of jewels.”  The holiday’s name goes back to a legend about the Queen of Sheba. When she returned to Ethiopia after visiting King Solomon, her chiefs welcomed her with a gift of jewels—or “enkutatash.” Today, it’s less about jewels and more about giving thanks, sharing love, and starting the year with good vibes.

On September 11th, Ethiopians celebrate the New Year and the end of the rainy season. The reason the Ethiopian New Year is on September 11 instead of January 1st is because of the different calendars; Ethiopia uses its own calendar that is about seven to eight years behind ours. While we’re living in 2025, Ethiopia just stepped into 2018. They also have 13 months in a year—12 months of 30 days and one mini-month with only 5 or 6 days. Kind of like a bonus level in a video game

Many families start the day by going to church, then gather for big meals. Children go door-to-door singing traditional songs and handing out flowers. In return, they get gifts, snacks, or a little money (basically Ethiopia’s version of trick-or-treat, but way sweeter). Meals usually include injera (a spongy flatbread), spicy stews, and a traditional coffee ceremony that can last for hours. See the recipes of some of my favorites. Of course, no New Year is complete without dancing and celebrating with friends

For Ethiopians, Enkutatash isn’t just about flipping a page on the calendar—it’s about celebrating traditions, spending time with family, and looking forward to what’s ahead.So while we’ll be waiting until January for our New Year’s countdown, Ethiopia’s already a few months into theirs—proving that there’s no one right time to celebrate new beginnings. 

Dashain: Nepal’s Festival of Light Over Darkness

By Anisha Adhikari

10/2/2025

Dashain is one of Nepal’s most important holidays, celebrated every year in October by around 80% of Nepalese people. The festival honors the victory of the Goddess Durga Mata over the demon Mahishasura, symbolizing the triumph of good over evil.

The story begins with constant battles between the gods and demons. To win, the demon Mahishasura performed a penance that pleased Lord Brahma. As a reward, Brahma granted him a boon: no god or man would ever be able to destroy him. Convinced he was invincible, Mahishasura mocked the idea that a woman could ever defeat him.

When the war resumed, the gods realized that only a woman could destroy Mahishasura. In desperation, Brahma (the creator), Vishnu (the preserver), and Shiva (the destroyer) combined their powers to create the warrior goddess Durga, also known as Mahadevi. The gods armed her with powerful weapons: Vishnu gave her a chakra (spinning disc), Shiva gave her a trident, and Indra gave her a thunderbolt.

Riding a tiger, Durga challenged Mahishasura. At first, he laughed at her and even proposed marriage, but Durga refused and warned him she would destroy him if he continued. For nine days, they fought fiercely. Mahishasura used his shape-shifting powers to confuse her, but Durga defeated his army one by one. Finally, on the tenth day, she killed Mahishasura by beheading him with her chakra.

Dashain celebrates this victory as a reminder that light always triumphs over darkness and good always prevails over evil. Nepali families decorate their homes with colorful lights during the festival to symbolize hope, resilience, and the power of goodness.

Dashain is filled with family traditions. Elders place tika (a red blessing mark made of rice, yogurt, and vermillion) on the foreheads of younger relatives and give them jamara—sacred barley grass that is grown to honor the gods and ancestors. Along with these blessings, elders often give money as a token of good fortune. Families celebrate together by dancing, sharing delicious food, and enjoying each other’s company.

Dashain is more than just a holiday—it’s a time for unity, joy, and reflection. Across Nepal, it brings families and communities together to honor tradition and celebrate the victory of light over darkness.