BY: Dr. Hana Saada
ALGIERS- Like many communities across North Africa, Algerians celebrated the beginning of the new Amazigh year, marked by the Yennayer festival. The festivity, officially recognized as a public holiday on January 12, holds historical significance for the nation. The late President Abdelaziz Bouteflika declared Yennayer a paid non-working day in December 2017. Subsequently, on May 30, 2018, the Council of the Nation ratified a bill designating Yennayer as an official and paid national holiday.
Origins of the Amazigh Calendar
Yennayer, celebrated on January 12th, is a traditional festival marking the conclusion of the agricultural season. According to Louisa Galeze, a heritage researcher at the National Center for Prehistoric, Anthropological, and Historical Research (CNRPAH), Yennayer has roots in the Numidian era, preceding the arrival of the Romans, when North African inhabitants celebrated an agricultural event to welcome the new season.
In ancient times, what is now known as Yennayer was referred to as an agricultural festival by the Numidians, whose lives revolved around seasonal agricultural activities. Louisa Galeze explained that it was essentially an agricultural gathering marking the end of the agricultural year. Over time, customs and traditions intertwined with this event, giving it the festive character known today.
Yennayer, as we recognize it today, was a significant agricultural celebration on January 12th, allowing communities to take stock of food reserves, prepare for upcoming harvests, and engage in acts of solidarity towards the less fortunate. Despite the introduction of new traditions and customs in recent centuries, these additions do not diminish the symbolic importance of the event and its social impact.
According to Galeze, the most crucial element in Yennayer celebrations is “Imensi” (dinner in Tamazight). Traditional dishes served during Yennayer, with their various aspects and flavors, become moments of sharing among family members or neighbors.
Yennayer, once an essential moment for assessing a year’s hard work and preparing for the arrival of spring, has evolved into a cultural and social gathering. As we celebrate it this year, Yennayer continues to embody a connection to agricultural roots while embracing the rich tapestry of new customs and traditions introduced over the centuries.
As for the Amazigh calendar, formalized in the 1960s, traces its roots to the Academie Berbere, an Amazigh cultural association based in Paris. Commencing the count of Amazigh years from 950 BC, the decision aimed to align with the ascension of the Amazigh pharaoh Shoshenq I to the throne of Egypt. Shoshenq I, a prominent figure in ancient North African history, symbolizes strength and power for the Imazighen. Derived directly from the Julian calendar, historically used in North Africa to regulate agricultural seasons, the Amazigh calendar predates the Gregorian calendar.
Myths and legends of Yennayer
Myths and legends attempt to explain the celebration’s genesis, with one folktale involving a determined elderly woman. The story serves as an allegory, emphasizing harmony with nature and the virtues of patience and caution.
Allegorical Tale of the Obstinate Old Lady
According to Amazigh tradition, the month of Yennayer originally comprised 30 days. In a widely shared narrative, an obstinate old lady challenges harsh winter conditions by taking her goat grazing on the last day of Yennayer, known as one of the Black Nights. Offended by her defiance, Yennayer borrows an additional day from Furar (February) and subjects the woman to an extra cold night in retaliation. The story underscores the importance of living in harmony with nature and navigating the challenges of the region’s climate.
1- Yennayer Celebration in M’zab: A Ritual Enriching Ancestral Traditions
In the heart of M’zab, Algeria, the celebration of Yennayer, the Amazigh New Year, transcends being a fleeting ritual; it stands as a testament to the traditions embraced by Algerians. Among the Amazigh-speaking families in M’zab, Yennayer remains a vibrant festival, complete with ritualistic practices, vibrant colors, and culinary traditions, painting a unique cultural tapestry.
This ritual varies from region to region, and in Ghardaia, for instance, preparations for this celebration commence early in January, involving children, women, and men, adhering to strict measures.
Celebrated on the night of January 6th to 7th, Yennayer in M’zab follows a tradition intertwined with agricultural activities and essential resources for rural life. It signifies the onset of the winter season and the agrarian year in this arid climate region.
The mysterious choice of January 6th to 7th for Yennayer in M’zab, unlike other regions celebrating on January 12th, is yet to be definitively explained. Nonetheless, it is universally agreed that the Amazigh New Year aligns with the agricultural calendar, explains Mr. Salah Tirichine, a retired teacher.
For the oasis inhabitants of M’zab, this event coincides with the end of the date palm harvest, signifying a crucial stage to assess the environmental conditions of the date palm groves. This marks the beginning of the care and grooming operations for productive date palm trees. The objective is to trim dry fronds, remnants, dead shrubs, shoots, and remains of floral spikes. This aids in soil moisture retention, nutrient preservation, and reduces the risk of fires.
Dr. Ahmed Nouh, a notable figure in Béni-Isguen, emphasizes that Yennayer is also an occasion for women in M’zab to discuss family situations, especially those of newlyweds. Families offer a special dish, the renowned “R’fis,” to the new bride, and women share advice on married life, children, and inquire about the well-being of widows and divorcees in a spirit of solidarity.
This indispensable local dish during the celebration of the Amazigh New Year “R’fis” is primarily made from semolina, sugar, milk, and eggs, the dish is prepared as a steamed, crumbled cake. Soaked in “smen” (natural animal fat) and adorned with raisins and hard-boiled eggs, this dish brings together the extended family. Family members gather around to taste this delicacy, followed by prayers and the reading of the opening verses of the Quran, seeking blessings for a prosperous year in crops and water abundance, as the new year marks the beginning of the farming season.
The evening concludes with a ritualistic atmosphere featuring traditional games called “Alaoune,” akin to Algerian Bouqala.
Even in Arabic-speaking communities in Ghardaia, similar festivities take place, ensuring a rich and auspicious meal, heralding a fruitful new year.
Yennayer encapsulates the revival of Amazigh culture, heritage, values, and traditions, seamlessly integrated into Algeria’s diverse and pluralistic national culture. Several festive ceremonies are organized by associations in various structures of Ghardaia to instill and teach younger generations and civil society about Algeria’s ancestral culture in all its diversity, concluding with prayers imploring Allah for beneficial rains to replenish aquifers and wells, combating drought.
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