The City of Alexandria, at the behest of Mayor Justin Wilson and the City Council, proclaimed Thursday, September 12th as “Enkutatash (Ethiopian New Year) Day”. This is yet another milestone for the Ethiopians in America, one that marks our growing presence and influence in Virginia and America as a whole. Alexandria is home to the largest community of Ethiopians outside of our homeland; it is an honor to be recognized by Mayor Wilson for the contributions that we make to Alexandria, the Commonwealth of Virginia and to the United States of America dating back since the first arrival of Ethiopian merchants on the shores of New York in 1808.

Normally celebrated on the 11th of September, due to leap year in the Orthodox calendar, Ethiopia New Year will be celebrated on September 12th this year. Enkutatash is joyous occasion for all Ethiopians as we commemorate the passing of a year and the arrival of a new day. Enkutatash is a biblical holiday, it is rooted in the story of Queen Makeda of Sheba and King Solomon. During Queen Makeda’s visit to Israel, she received both enku (diamond) and tata (trouble). After Solomon lured Makeda through guile, for her troubles Queen Makeda received a diamond by way of a child named Menelik I. It was through Menelik that the Solomonic line was established.

Enkutatash is thus a celebration of the bad times that eventually give way to God’s blessings. Though we might have our challenges as a community, a time arrives to flip the page and blessings come with the turning of the year. Let us turn the page of the age of divisiveness and instead embrace our commonalities. If we are united as a people and work for the common good, the potentials for us as a community and the possibilities for Ethiopia is limitless.

If you are in the Northern Virginia area, Ethiopians for Constitutional Monarchy, in conjunction with KinetBeth, will be hosting an event to present the proclamation to the public and celebrate Enkutatash at Makeda Ethiopian Restaurant on Thursday, September 12th from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM. The address is 516 Van Dorn St. Alexandria, VA. Click on the picture below to RSVP or email us at info@ethiopians4cm.org for further information.

An enkutatash message from the Chair of Ethiopians for Constitutional Monarchy Lij Teodrose Fikremariam