Ri’se Awde Amet
Happy Ethiopian New Year!
The Geeze word “awed” as defined by Aleka Kidane Welde Kiflae in his dictionary is “around, circle, from year to year.” The compound words “awde amet” then is termed as 365 days. (Aleka Kiadae Welde Kiflae Dictionary page 685)
Ethiopian Liturgical year has 13 months, 365 days and 366 days once a four year. After this is done and another years comes, the first day is known to be “Ri’se Awde Amet.” It is the first day onwards the fulfillment of a full year and replacement of another new year. The four evangelist Matthew, Mark, Luke and John owns years in turns.
Ri’se Awde Amet (the head of feasts) is the commemoration of Saint John the Baptist. The departure of him where he was beheaded is celebrated on the second day of the September. This endeavor took place at the transition between the year of gospel and new year. The commemoration of his feast is celebrated at the first day of September, which is the of example of the transition from the Old Testament to the New Testament, being the new year.
Psalms considering Saint John are sung at Holy Church from the first day of September until the eight day. Accord the Ethiopian Scholar Saint Yared’s Books, we sing for him like, “the head of feasts, Saint John, you are who give birth to Meteke and Abeqte.” Sermons about the Saint John and his hagiography are preached. The gospel of Saint Mark sates this about him. “I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way” “a voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’” (Mark 1:2-3)
The Son of Priest Zechariah has come from the wilderness at the year of ending of Old Testaments and the beginning of the New Testament and preached. It is sated in the Holy Bible as “the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him.” (Mark 1:2-5).
As well, he was found at the end Age of the Prophets and the beginning of the Age of Apostles, has preached the New Testament, which was the transition from the Old Testament to the New Testament. Thus the day that we are enriched to a new year leaving the old one, has become the commemoration of Saint John.
The day is named after him as “Age of John,” because as our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ has spoken about him saying, “Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.” (Matthew 11:11) Therefore, he is the head of righteous and martyr and as the new year is the head of all feasts and thus, is named after him.
The new year ‘Ri’se Awde Amet’ is also known as “Enkutatash” as in scripted in the Ethiopian History. The feast has gotten its name at the reign of Queen Saba. The Queen, after travelling to Jerusalem in seek of acknowledging King Solomon’s wisdom, she conceived and gave birth to her son Menelik. When received by the people of her country, she was given yellow flowers which blossoms at that time. The name of these kinds of flowers ‘Enkutatash’ is derived from two words in Amharic language. “Enku” to mean “flower” and “Tatatsh” meaning “face of blessing.” The new year was the time where females present gifts of flowers. So then, the feasts started to be called ‘Enkutatash.’
The presenting of wet grass being “Enkutatash,” began at the age of Noah. When the flood of water decreased, Noah sent dove for the confirmation, and when she returned, she brought an olive leaf. This ensued on the month of September and hence, it became the time for new year. Females carry and allot grass and flowers in the celebration of the feasts. The feast is then named by the name of the grass, ““Enkutatash.”
Happy Holiday!