In Ethiopia, the new year doesn’t start in January.
It begins in September - when the rainy season ends, the skies are clear, and yellow flowers bloom across the land.
The celebration is called Enkutatash - and it’s more than just a new calendar page.
Nature’s New Year
Enkutatash falls on September 11th (or 12th in leap years).
It marks the return of sunshine after months of rain.
Fields are covered in Meskel flowers - golden, bright, hopeful.
Children go from door to door, singing, offering hand-drawn pictures and blossoms.
Families gather, meals are shared, and blessings exchanged.
It’s a quiet celebration - rooted in rhythm, community, and renewal.
Meaningful tradition
The word Enkutatash means “gift of jewels” – linked to the Queen of Sheba’s return from her journey.
But for many, the meaning is simpler:
Gratitude. Fresh starts. Inner peace.
It’s not about reinvention.
Not about resolutions.
It’s a moment of reflection – and gentle promise.
A breath.
A pause.
A yes to what matters.
What it teaches us
At Welana, we honour Enkutatash as more than a date.
It’s a mindset.
A reminder that starting anew doesn’t have to feel like pressure.
Maybe it’s enough to slow down.
To take one kind step at a time.
To drink tea without checking your phone.
To cuddle up in a fabric that grounds you.
New beginnings often arrive in silence.
A new year doesn’t need noise. It can feel like sunlight on your skin.
Like soft fabric that warms and holds.
Like coffee with people who feel like home.
Like a small “now is enough.”
So from Ethiopia to wherever you are: Melkam addis amet – Happy New Year.
Woven together by values that carry us forward.