A second New Year's celebration for North Africa
2006-01-11
No sooner had the lanterns to welcome the universal New Year gone out that certain regions of the Maghreb began to prepare for Amazigh New Year on 12 January. In Morocco and Algeria in particular, the event is celebrated with all the splendour of a tradition anchored in morality.
By Lyes Aflou for Magharebia in Algiers – 11/01/06
 [File] The Yennayer meal is centered around family |
On 12 January, the Amazigh people of North Africa will celebrate their own New Year for the 2,956th time. The festivities are strictly a family affair involving specific dishes. Couscous with chicken is the predominant dish, which embodies the whole symbolism of the event. Families buy male chickens, preferably corn-fed and cut their throats in an ancestral practice dating back centuries. According to researchers, 12 January corresponds to the end of armed conflict between the Imazighen and the Egyptian pharaohs.
The Imazighen then had their own ancient calendar based on the changing seasons, the various cycles of vegetation and the position of celestial bodies such as the moon and the sun. With the arrival of the Romans, the Julian calendar came to replace the native one, which could no longer keep up with the new seasons as a result of agricultural innovations. According to historians, 12 January on the Julian calendar (instituted in 45 BC by Emperor Julius Caesar) corresponds to 1 January on the present Gregorian calendar (instituted by Pope Gregory XIII in 1582).
Given how deep-rooted the celebration is among the people, Algerian authorities are quite close to legally recognising Amazigh New Year as a public holiday under pressure from cultural associations working to restore cultural identity. Such recognition is part of negotiations currently taking place between the Movement for Arouch People (Kabylian tribes) and the government. In the Kabylia region, schools and universities did not await the official decision to close for the day.
the New Year should be one of prosperity, opulence and abundance
The celebration comes at the end of the season of seeding, with the event being celebrated to seek a blessing for a good harvest in the future. The rich, copious meal of several dishes brings together all members of the family on a day of optimism to wish that the New Year should be one of prosperity, opulence and abundance. On this occasion, everyone sits down around a large traditional couscous meal seasoned with olive oil and full of chicken pieces.
For some Amazigh, it is essential not to eat spicy or bitter food so those will not be the flavours for the year ahead. The Yennayer meal is most influenced by the crops grown in the region and a family's material means. However, the food served must symbolise richness, fertility and abundance. Examples of dishes include irecman (a corn and bean mash) and hearts of palm.
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laabd med Posted 2007-01-10
Azul to evrybody and to amazighs I wish you a happy new year 2957 asugas amainu asugas ighudan i kra igan amazigh d ikra igan tamazight
amazighnarif Posted 2007-01-12
We are receiving greetings and good wishes for the new Tamazight year 2957 for all Moroccans without exception. We would like to request from all respected people to show respect to the others without any curses! we are all Muslim Moroccans and thanks in advance. The Amazigh calendar is one of the oldest used by mankind over the ages; the Amazigh have used it for 2957 years, i.e.: before 951 BC. Unlike the Gregorian and Islamic calendar, the Amazigh one is not connected with any religious or worshiping event. It is rather a historical incident. When the Amazigh celebrate such the end of year every Amazighi year, they consider it a natural day stressing their connection with the land that they have always loved and crystallizes their understanding of life, an understanding based essentially on reason. The Amazigh also celebrate the beginning of every agricultural season, praising the Lord for the His countless bounties thanking Him and Asking Him to make the next year even more plentiful and blessed. The first month is Yanuyur...a month of agricultural activities and flourishing lands May the Lord make this year and the next a prosperous and blessed year. New year's eve is id usggas that is the month. It is also know as Ayur that is one; and yan part of the compound yanuyur and the word denotes two periods of the year: cold winter and moderate weather and is considered the beginning of the performance year for agriculture. There are many reasons why the Amazigh use this calendar the most common of which is that the day marks the victory of the Amazigh led by their king Chichung II over the Pharaohs during the rule of Ramsis I in 951 BC. After that the Amazigh began celebrating every year this historic victory. Ever since that day represented the new year's day based on a specific calendar. We are entitled to celebrate our holidays reflecting our civilization that is enriching North African legacy as a whole. Thanks Warm greetings to our King Mohammed VI and the proud Moroccan people, Happy new Amazigh year to all in the world from Rif mountains in Al Hoceima, Morocco Peace Ayuz 2957
zakaria Posted 2007-01-14
im quite happy to celibrate our new amazigh year with more prosperity and success in life i hope that we achieve our aims and dreams asggass amayno ayyuz nnon chaygato mazigh d tmazight tanmmirt
mouna Posted 2007-04-14
Happy new year to all Amazigh people in particular and to all Maghreb people in general and I ask God that this year will be a year of love, brotherhood, peace and affection among all people, be they Arabs or not. There's no difference between us except in faith. I hope that the Amazigh language will be given all its rights and integrated in the education system with our respects to Arabic (language of the holy Qur'an) and hope that the Amazigh identity will restore its status in its first and last country...happy and peaceful new year Salam Alaikoum
mourad Posted 2007-12-27
My name is Mourad. I am from the great Kabylie, i.e. Algeria. I wish Happy New Year to all the Berbers.
حـمزة عبـد اللـه قـاســـم Posted 2008-01-02
On the occasion of the new Amazigh year, I present my warmest greetings and best wishes to the supervisors of the site. And to all the sons of North Africa whether abroad or in their country (Tamzgha). We also ask God Almighty to have mercy on the martyrs of the Amazigh cause in the world. Happy new year, long live Tamazight....
abderahman 6_1_2008 Posted 2008-01-06
Happy new year, may it bring to Amazigh people happiness and wellness
markou Posted 2008-01-10
Asgas Ambarki to all the Amazighs around the world
lahcen Posted 2008-01-11
Happy new year to all Amazigh people.
lamjahdia Posted 2008-01-12
Happy new year
hassanaza Posted 2008-01-13
that's totally marvilous
salih Posted 2008-01-13
Greetings, welcome. I congratulate the Amazigh nation for the New Year, I hope from God to make Islam and our people triumph. Thanks to the Rifians.
rahma yassni Posted 2008-01-14
Happy new year to all Amazigh people wherever they are and all Moroccans. I present my best wishes to my family in Morocco, Casablanca, Agadir and Taroudant. Thank you.
مسعود السيد Posted 2008-01-14
My greetings to all Amazigh people from Las Palmas to the West of Egypt and all over the world. Congratulations to everyone for the new Amazigh year. Happy new year and thanks to the managing team of the site.
يكو سمير Posted 2008-01-15
I present my thanks in the name of Ait Igou from the region of Khenifra to everyone who contributed to preparing this site. And a happy new Amazigh year to everyone. Thank you.
lahcen Posted 2008-01-15
Happy new year Amazigh people, my brothers.
ابراهيم Posted 2008-01-17
The Berber people celebrate the Amazigh year on the occasion of the triumph of the Amazigh people over the Pharaohs 2956 years ago. On this occasion, I congratulate the Berber people with my best wishes.
ابراهيم Posted 2008-01-17
I'm Brahim Azrar. I'm 15 from Ben Tayeb. Nador. Morocco. On the occasion of the Amazigh year, I say happy new year, I wish you all the best.
sara Posted 2009-02-04
Happy new year Amazigh people, pride to Berbers, Berber forever 100%.
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