By Suelika N. Buchanan
(Basseterre; St. Kitts): An irie and religious gathering was held yesterday, Tuesday, Sep. 11, at the Ras Phillip Botanical Garden in Tabernacle in celebration of the Ethiopian New Year.
Ethiopia which is seven years behind the western world calendar is not only celebrating the New Year but also the new Millennium of 2000.
According to a book titled “The Story of Ethiopia” the New Year’s Day celebrates both ancient and christian festivals.
“New Year’s Day called Enkutatash comes on September 11, the first day of the Ethiopian calendar. It is a seasonal celebration because it comes toward the end of the “big rains”….” The book stated.
This festival has an ancient origin that goes back to the Queen of Sheba and according to the legend, the queen returned from her visit to Jerusalem at this time.
She found her national treasury empty because of the many gifts she had taken to King Solomon.
When her chiefs came to welcome her, they said, “Enku le tash.” These words meant, “We offer to replenish or refill your treasury with jewels.” So the Ethiopian New Year came to be called Enkutatash.
At the Botanical Garden in Tabernacle, the day was in a family like atmosphere as the Rastafarians along with their children gathered and recited several scriptures and the Ethiopian creed as well as several chanting.
The drums were also an integral part of the celebration and there were also several dishes of Ital food available to all.
The celebration was also scheduled to include a fun game of cricket but because of the late start and the session ending sometime after 6 p.m. the game was cancelled.
Ras Sankofa is the PRO for the Theocracy Reign Ancient Order of Melcheizedek House of David and said despite the late start he felt the proceedings went well.
“We studied the particular mission about His Majesty when he left the throne in Ethiopia and we also heard from Elders who explained the significance of the day,” he said.
He said that there were also other significant dates that they celebrated such as Haile Selassie’s Birthday on July 23 and the coronation of the Ethiopian Emperor on November 2.
“We’ll now see the 7’s clashing as according to the western world calendar this is the year 2007, Ethiopia is seven years behind the western calendar and this year on Nov. 2 is the 77th Anniversary his Majesty was set upon the throne,” he said. “So it is very important, as this new millennium is dawning.”
Several members of the Trinity Trod Youth Alliance were also present.
Ras Hillie, a member of the Alliance believes strongly that the new Millennium is a sign for happenings and things to come.
Ras Iron commented that the day is significant.
“It is a day for I and I to get together and celebrate Ethiopia and see the people come together as one,” he said.
At the gathering they read and gave their personal views about the “attack” on the Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie I around 1974.
The new millennium also signifies a lot of changes within the world.
“This is now the millennium the western world was looking at seven years ago,” said Sankofa. “This is the time we have to look for things that will manifest and still have faith it will be a time of trials where we’ll see the strong survive and the weak fall.”
~~Adz:Right~~Empress Esther one of the elder sistrens at the gathering feels that some of the Rastas are still sleeping.
“In the past there were more fire and more vibes,” she said. “I was disappointed with the late start because time is money and life itself but apart from that I feel the day went down well.”
She continued: “We need to let the people know what’s going on, this is our livity and today is like a prophecy fulfilling and as we can see there are so many things happening. I feel the prophecy already come through in terms of the New World Order and for me all we have to do now is hold the faith and be strong.”
Empress Ina Maccabbee, said that the best part of the gathering was bringing the youth and children together.
“We felt that family vibes here today and that’s what we try to do when we have our gathering is bring the family together,” she said.
Ras Antique said that being a Rastafarian is a good and spiritual experience.
“It’s an inspiration to be around other Rastas and on a day like today which marked a milestone it was a great feeling,” he said.
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