My Plans for the Future
New Year in Ethiopia
By Francisco Lemus
By Gebrehiwot Yihidago
For the future, I would like
to do many things. The most important is to buy a house in my
country. I want my house with 3
bedrooms, a garage for two cars, a
big yard, near good schools, and in
a safe neighborhood. After that
I‟m going to go back to my country, and then I will find a new job
as an electrician in order to retire
in my country. Next, I‟m going to
get married and we are going to
have two children. These are my
main dreams for the future. I
hope to realize them.
Teacher: Lisa Walker
Level 3 Afternoon
Fall 2009
In Ethiopia, New Year falls on September 11. The day is called “Enkutatash” in
Amharic. New Year is an important festival
in Ethiopia because it comes after 3 months
of heavy rains. It marks a new season.
The Ethiopian calendar is 7 years behind the Gregorian calendar. For example
2009 in the USA is 2002 in Ethiopia. The
Ethiopian calendar consists of 12 months
with 30 days each plus a 13th month call
“pagume.” Pagume has five days and one
days more in each leap year.
Ethiopia has over 80 different languages but Amharic is the official national
language.
On New Year‟s day everybody goes to
church and mosque wearing traditional
Ethiopian clothing. After church and
mosque there is a party in everybody‟s
home. Families go to visit friends and relatives. Girls dressed in their new Ethiopian
dresses go from house to house singing a
special New Year song in return for some
money.
Ethiopia has many religious holidays
which is celebrated by different religious
groups. It is New Year that is celebrated
by Ethiopians regardless of religion.
Schools, offices, shops, and banks are
closed and New Year is spent feasting and
partying.
Teacher: Laurel Anderson
Level 3 Morning
Fall 2009
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