Happy New Year
on Phil and Caroline with VSO in Eritrea (Eritrea), 10/Sep/2009 12:45, 34 days ago
I’ve worked this morning to the accompaniment of loud squawking complaints coming from a bag under my boss’s desk. The chicken was ignored for the morning and taken home at midday. I walked home for lunch surrounded by bleats and baa’s coming from compounds in all directions and had to sidestep countless goats and sheep, either being sold, or led home. In case you hadn’t guessed it’s a holiday tomorrow (Friday). A big one. The Ge’ez New Year or Ri'se Awde Amet. It occurs on September 11 in the Gregorian calendar, except for leap years, when it occurs on September 12. The Coptic calendar, has twelve months of 30 days each plus five or six extra days, which comprise a thirteenth month. The year 2002 will begin on September 11, 2009 in the Gregorian calendar. If you need any more clarification let me refer you to Wikipoedia, it gets pretty complicated.Needless to say the celebrations comprise a lot of eating, drinking, coffee ceremonies and socialising. I’ve been told that as strict adhere rents to the Eritrean Orthodox church don’t eat meat on Fridays, a lot of the celebrations will take place on Saturday. That may account for why our invitation to a friends home is for Friday or Saturday, we have to wait for a phone call. Which ever day it iswe’re looking forward to it.C