Consulate Hosts Ethiopian New Year Celebration in Bahrain

• Public event at Adhari Park
• Traditional dances and coffee ceremony
• Ethiopia marks 2018 this month

The Ethiopian community in Bahrain gathered this Friday afternoon at Adhari Park to celebrate Enkutatash, the Ethiopian New Year, in a vibrant cultural showcase organized by the Consulate General of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia.

Festive Gathering
The event, which began at 3 PM, was open to the public and offered a taste of Ethiopia’s rich heritage. Highlights included traditional dances, the renowned Ethiopian coffee ceremony, and other cultural performances. Families and community members came together to mark the arrival of the Ethiopian year 2018, in contrast to the Gregorian year 2025.

Unique Calendar
Unlike much of the world, which celebrates the New Year on January 1, Ethiopia follows its own ancient calendar rooted in the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. This calendar runs about seven years behind the Gregorian system, making Friday’s celebration a meaningful moment of renewal and hope.

Cultural Meaning
Enkutatash, meaning “gift of jewels,” is tied to the blooming of the yellow Meskel flower, which signals the end of the rainy season and the arrival of sunshine. For Ethiopians, it is a time of reflection, forgiveness, and new beginnings—celebrated in Bahrain with the same warmth and vibrancy as in Ethiopia.

The Consulate emphasized that the annual event aims to showcase Ethiopia’s traditions, foster cultural exchange, and strengthen bonds within Bahrain’s diverse community.