September 11th is both New Year's Day for
Ethiopia and the Feast of St. John the Baptist.
The day is called Enkutatash meaning the
"gift of jewels." When the famous Queen of
Sheba returned from her expensive jaunt to
visit King Solomon in Jerusalem, her chiefs
welcomed her back by replenishing her
treasury with enku or jewels. The spring festival
has been celebrated since these early times and
as the rains come to their abrupt end, dancing
and singing can be heard at every village in the
green countryside. After dark on New Year's Eve
people light fires outside their houses.
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