Ethiopian New Year - Sep 11

When is Ethiopian New Year?

This public holiday in Ethiopia is celebrated on September 11 unless it is a leap year in the Ethiopian calendar, in which case it is celebrated on September 12.

Known in Amharic, the official language of Ethiopia as Enkutatash, this holiday marks 1 Meskerem, the first day in the Ethiopian calendar.

History of Ethiopian New Year

The Ethiopian calendar is a solar calendar based on the Egyptian and Julian calendars and was brought to Ethiopia by missionaries. The year consists of 12 months of 30 days and a thirteenth month of five or six timekeeping days.

Pagume, the 13th month in the Ethiopian calendar, comes from the Greek word epagomene, which means ‘days forgotten when a year is calculated’. This month has five days or six days in a leap year. According to the Ethiopian calendar, a year has 365 days, six hours, two minutes and 24 seconds. Once every four years, the six hours add up to 24 hours and become the sixth day in a leap year. Once in 600 years, the two minutes and 24 seconds add up to a full day and form a seventh day.

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Coptic New Year - Feast of Nayrouz - Sep 11

The Coptic New year begins according to the ancient Coptic calendar used by the ancient Egyptians 3000 years before Christianity, it begins on the 1st Tout  (11th Sept) which is when the star Sirus reaches its highest point this coincided with the rising of the Nile which was a feast called Ni-Iaro-oo. The Christians of Egypt maintained this day, as the first day of the year. Instead of adopting the word Ni-Iaro-oo we have taken the Persian word for New Year, Nayrouz. It is not clear why this happened but some say it occurred long before Christ when the Persians ruled Egypt 525-405BC. While others argue it occurred later when Arabic was the main language of Egypt and the ancient Egyptian word was confused for the Persian word.

The Coptic New Year is also the time dedicated to remembering the martyrs. So revered by the church are the martyrs that the calendar was reset to begin in the year 284AD the year Diocletian came to power an era marked by the most horrific Christian persecutions and the greatest witness to our true living God Jesus Christ. As such it is considered a feast in the church that continues till the 17th Tout when the church celebrates the feast of the Cross.

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Nativity of Mary - Sep 8

The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Nativity of Mary, Marymas or the Birth of the Virgin Mary, refers to a Christian feast day celebrating the birth of Mary, mother of Jesus. In the case of saints, the Church commemorates their date of death, with Saint John the Baptist and the Virgin Mary as the few whose birth dates are commemorated. 

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International Day of Literacy - Sep 8

Since 1967, the annual celebrations of International Literacy Day (ILD) have taken place on 8 September around the world to remind policy-makers, practitioners, and the public of the critical importance of literacy for creating more literate, just, peaceful, and sustainable society. 

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Ukrainian Heritage Day - Sep 7

The first official Ukrainian immigrants, Vasyl Eleniak and Ivan Pylypiw, arrived in Canada on September 7, 1891. Soon afterwards, Ukrainian immigrants began arriving in Ontario in larger numbers.

In 2001, the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Ontario proclaimed September 7 each year as Ukrainian Heritage Day. 

Today, Ontario is home to more than 376,440 Ukrainian Canadians, and there are over 1.3 million Canadians of Ukrainian descent across Canada. Ukrainian Heritage Day provides a special opportunity to recognize the role that Ontario has played in successfully welcoming generations of Ukrainians seeking a better life here in Canada while celebrating the contributions of Ukrainian Canadians across many communities and walks of life in our province and our country.

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Anant Chaturdashi  - Sep 6

One of the prominent festivals celebrated with much fanfare in India is Anant Chaturthi, the festival which marks the end of the 10-days long Ganesh Festival. Ganesha Chaturthi – is the festival which celebrates the greatness of the harbinger of all things good – Lord Ganesha. This year, the grand occasion of Anant Chaturdashi falls on Sept 6, 2025. The Ganesh Visarjan vidhi or bidding adieu to the great Lord is done with as much fanfare and spirit, as the Ganesha Pooja is done. 

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Mawlid al-Nabi - Sep 5

Across the globe, including in North America, Mawlid al-Nabi, the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad, is celebrated on the twelfth day of the month Rabi’ al-Awwal. Celebrations include festivals, prayer services, recitations of poetry and litanies, as well as religious gatherings. Celebrations of the Mawlid in North America and distinctly English forms of poetry, songs, and literature shows the increasing importance of Mawlid al-Nabi amongst North American Muslims.

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