Yennayer — The Amazigh New Year
January 13, 950 BCE origin, Sheshonq I, tagine rituals, official recognition
The date is January 13. The year count begins in 950 BCE — the approximate date when the Amazigh (Berber) king Sheshonq I ascended to the throne of Egypt, founding the 22nd Dynasty. Yennayer 2976 corresponds to Gregorian 2026. The calendar is agricultural in origin, tracking the solar year for planting and harvest purposes. It is the oldest calendar system still in active use in North Africa.
The celebration centres on food. The ritual meal varies by region but always emphasises abundance and communal eating. In the Souss, families prepare tagine with seven vegetables — a symbolic number. In the Rif, couscous with seven vegetables is standard. In the Atlas, families slaughter a rooster and prepare a special dish. The shared element is the number seven and the principle that the table must be full — an abundant Yennayer meal promises an abundant year.
The renewal rituals are domestic. Houses are cleaned. Old kitchen utensils may be replaced. In some regions, the hearth is relit with new fire. Children receive new clothes or small gifts. The symbolism is consistent across regions: the old year is swept away and the new year begins clean.
Official recognition was a long struggle. Amazigh cultural activists campaigned for decades to have Yennayer recognised as a national holiday. Algeria declared it a national holiday in 2018. Morocco followed in January 2024 — a decision that carried significant political weight, acknowledging the Amazigh identity as integral to Moroccan nationhood alongside the Arab and Islamic elements.
The holiday is now marked publicly. Cities hold festivals, concerts, and cultural events. Schools teach about the Amazigh calendar. Television broadcasts Yennayer programming. The recognition did not create the celebration — it had been observed privately for millennia — but it elevated it from a domestic tradition to a national event.
Explore the full interactive module — with the Amazigh calendar system explained, regional food traditions mapped, and the political timeline of recognition — at Dancing with Lions: https://www.dancingwiththelions.com/data/yennayer
Interactive Module
Data and visualisation by Dancing with Lions
