Enkutatash

Origins and name

The name Enkutatash translates from Amharic as the gift of jewels. According to Ethiopian tradition, the Queen of Sheba, known locally as Makeda, returned home from visiting King Solomon in Jerusalem on this date. Her welcoming followers greeted her return by presenting her with precious gems, establishing the name of the holiday. The day also reflects Ethiopia's unique calendar system, which counts years differently from the Western Gregorian calendar. Following calculations from the ancient monk Annianus, the Ethiopian calendar places the Annunciation seven to eight years later, meaning its year count remains behind the standard international calendar.

Songs and flowers

Celebrations begin early with morning church services, followed by visits among friends and family. Young girls dress in new garments and pick bright yellow daisies known as Adey Abeba, or Bidens macroptera, which bloom heavily across the landscape at this time of year. Carrying these fresh bouquets, the children walk from home to home while beating small drums and singing Abebaye hoy, a traditional seasonal song. In return, hosts offer them small gifts or treats. In modern cities, people also celebrate the season by sending printed greeting cards and sharing formal well wishes.

The holiday feast

Food forms a central part of the celebration once religious services and greetings conclude. Relatives come together at home to share large platters of injera, the traditional sourdough flatbread, paired with various kinds of wat, a rich spiced stew. A signature dish for the day is doro wat, a slow-cooked chicken stew prepared specially for major gatherings. Dining from a shared plate reinforces bonds among family members, who spend the afternoon offering hospitality, drinking together, and wishing one another health and prosperity for the incoming year.

How Enkutatash is kept

The celebration starts with morning worship, notably at sites such as Raguel Church on Mount Entoto. Afterwards, families gather in their homes to share a meal featuring injera and doro wat. Later in the day, young girls wearing fresh clothes head into the streets with drums. They gather yellow Adey Abeba flowers and hand bouquets to friends and neighbours while singing the song Abebaye hoy. City residents also exchange seasonal cards and formal new year greetings.

When and where

The holiday takes place on Meskerem 1 in the Ethiopian calendar. In the Gregorian calendar, this falls on 11 September during common years and on 12 September during a leap year.

Enkutatash is celebrated across Ethiopia and Eritrea. Observances occur in private homes, neighbourhoods, and local churches, with major gatherings held at locations such as Raguel Church on Mount Entoto.

What Enkutatash means

Enkutatash translates as the gift of jewels, recalling the gemstones presented to the Queen of Sheba upon her return from Jerusalem. The holiday symbolises renewal, community warmth, and mutual goodwill, expressed through the exchange of bright yellow Adey Abeba blossoms and shared hospitality.

On the table

• injera
• wat
• doro wat

Days Enkutatash is marked

Enkutatash dates: 2026, 2027, 2028

Questions people ask about Enkutatash

See also

LosarThe Tibetan Buddhist New Year festival of renewal, offerings, and family feastsUgadiA South Indian New Year feast celebrating life with sweet, sour, and bitter tastesMehreganAn Iranian autumn festival honoring Mithra, friendship, and the harvestTsagaan SarThe Mongolian Lunar New Year festival of peace, elders, white foods and renewal

Good reading and sources

• Enkutatash on WikipediaEncyclopedia
• Wikidata recordOpen data

It may contain mistakes. Traditions differ from one family, village and community to the next, and the people who keep them know them best. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-04.