13 September 2007

Dubai: Monday evening may have passed like any other for many in the UAE, but the country's Ethiopian population partied like it was 1999. That's because it was.

Seven years on from the start of the new Millennium for the Gregorian Calendar-following world, Ethiopians yesterday marked the beginning of the year 2000.

Ethiopia follows a Coptic calendar - known as the Julian Calendar - which divides the year into 12 months of 30 days and a thirteenth month of five days, or six in a leap year. Ethiopians celebrate the New Year, or the first of Meskerem, on September 12 of the Gregorian calendar.

An estimated 40,000 Ethiopians marked the auspicious occasion on Monday night, with festivities, including celebrations at a hotel in Deira, where guests, both Muslim and Christian Ethiopians, including Coptic priests, enjoyed Ethiopian food and a traditional coffee ceremony. A live transmission from Ethiopia was broadcast as 1999 came to a close.

Watching the live-feed of the festivities in his home town, Mulugeta Tebkew and his friends said they had been looking forward to this day for seven years.

"Since the Millennium came around for [those following the Gregorian calendar] we have been looking forward to our own celebration," he said.

Although technically a Coptic Christian celebration, Ethiopian Muslims said they also considered it as the beginning of the New Year. "Even we as Muslims are celebrating - it is part of our identity as Ethiopians and we are very proud," said Ebrahim Mahari, 30.

'Special day'

All wearing scarves reading 'Happy Millennium' in their native Amharic language, the Jamal family came out in force to welcome the New Year.

"This is such a special day for everyone here and in my country," said Abdul Qader Jamal. "It's a chance for all of us to get together and celebrate this wonderful occasion."

Jamal, his sisters and several young nieces, were all dressed in traditional festive attire. "In my country most people follow the calendar .... What I would wish for in the next millennium is for our country to become more prosperous."

By Zoi Constantine

Gulf News 2007. All rights reserved.