Melkam Adis Amet (Happy New Year Ethiopia)

MELKAM ADIS AMET HAPPY NEW YEAR ETHIOPIA September 11th Ethiopia welcomes in the New Year!!!!! The year 2001!!!!Ethiopian New Year (Enkutatash)Ethiopia still retains the Julian calendar, in which the year is divided into 12 months of 30 days each and a 13th month of 5 days and 6 days in leap year. The Ethiopian calendar is 8 years behind the Gregoriancalendar from January to September and 7 years behind between September11 and January 8.Enkutatash means 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 bolts by replenishing her treasury with inku or jewels. The spring festival has been celebrated since this early time sand as the rains come to their abrupt end, dancing and singing can beheard at every village in the green countryside. Meskerem is seen as a month of transition from the old year to the new. But Enkutatash is not exclusively a religious holiday. Today'sEnkutatash is also the season for exchanging formal new year greetings and cards among the urban sophisticated - in lieu or the traditional bouquet of flowers. It is a time to express hopes and dreams for the future.