The Berber New Year, Yennayer, is celebrated between January 12th and 14th, depending on the region, in Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia and Libya.
The Amazigh people, also known as Berbers, celebrate these days the arrival of the year 2976, according to a calendar that dates back to 950 BC. More than a festival, Yennayer is today a symbol of identity, cultural resistance and political recognition of an ancient culture.
Across North Africa, the Amazigh, or Berber, people gather to celebrate the arrival of the year 2976. This is not a journey through time, but the result of a own calendar, which begins in 950 BCthe date on which King Sheshonq ascended the throne of Egypt.
The Berber New Year, known as Yennayer, is celebrated between January 12th and 14thdepending on the region, in Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia and Libya.
Festivals, music and traditional costumes
Celebrations include large family gatherings, lit bonfires and traditional music. Through the villages and the busiest streets of the cities, the wishes of “aseggas ameggaz”, which means happy new year.
For the occasion, colorful traditional costumes, often richly embroidered, are worn, in an environment marked by the sharing and celebration of cultural identity.
Who are the Amazigh or Berbers
The Berbers, a term that can be translated as “free people” or “noble people”, encompass several ethnic groups considered the original inhabitants of North Africa, present in the region since the first historical records.
The exact number of people who identify as Berbers is unknown due to a lack of official statistics, but estimates put them in the tens of millions. Algeria and Morocco have the largest populations, and in the latter country, around 40% of the population is of Berber origin.
Yennayer is above all a time for family reunion, associated with renewal and the deep connection that the Berber people maintain with nature and agricultural cycles.
As it is a very diverse community, gastronomic traditions vary from region to region. In the High Atlas, in Morocco, it is common to serve “ourkemen”, a dish made with legumes, whole grains and spices.
In Algeria, many families end the meal with “trèze”, a mixture of sweets, dried fruits and nuts. In some places, this mixture is symbolically thrown over the youngest child in the family, as a sign of prosperity for the new year.
Yennayer is not limited to the domestic space. In several cities, the celebration is taken to the street with parades, concerts and carnivals.
These public demonstrations of cultural pride have special meaning for a community that, for centuries, has faced marginalization and loss of rights.
A history marked by repression
From the 7th century onwards, with the arrival of Arab conquerors in North Africa, the Arabic language and Islam became dominant, often to the detriment of Berber languages and traditions.
In some countries, this marginalization has been institutionalized. During Muammar Gaddafi’s regime in Libya, the Berber language Tamazight was banned in schools and parents were not even allowed to give their children Berber names.
Over the past decade, thanks to the persistence of Amazigh activists, Berber language and culture have gained greater official recognition.
In 2011, Morocco recognized Tamazight as an official language. Algeria and Morocco declared Yennayer a national holiday in 2017 and 2023, respectively.
Today, the Amazigh New Year marks not only the entry into 2976, but also a symbolic victory for an ancient culture that continues to assert itself after centuries of resistance.
