The New Year as a phenomenon originates from Africa. The annual calendar appeared in ancient Egypt and was associated with the cyclical nature of natural phenomena. They began to measure time not only in hours, but also in months. Many rites of initiation, various competitions and other traditions are associated with cyclicity. In some countries, they coincide with the European New Year. But in ancient times, the beginning of the new year fell on the end of September. This was due to the flooding of the Nile, which flooded the surrounding areas.

 

In many African regions, the climate is quite difficult, dry, so the rituals are designed to appease nature. Ethiopia still celebrates the New Year (or Enkutatash, meaning "offering jewels") on September 1. True, this is not due to the Nile, but to the end of the long rainy season. They live according to an unusual calendar for us: there are thirteen months in a year, twelve of which consist of thirty days, and the last one consists of five or six, depending on whether the leap year is a leap year or not. On this day, people give each other bouquets of yellow daisies, symbolizing the sun. One common ritual is the lighting of a spruce or eucalyptus tree – literally. On the main square of the capital, a fire is lit, in the center of which stands a powerful tree trunk, and while it burns, people dance around and beat drums. According to legend, a fallen charred tree should point the top to where there will be a large harvest in the coming year. In Tunisia, the Sahara Festival is held - this is a huge holiday associated with the collection of dates, it arranges camel races and other competitions.

Traditional societies are more prevalent in Africa. African families are very large and live together in a large community. African tradition honors the spirits of ancestors: it is believed that ancestors after death remain nearby and sometimes live among us, which means that they must be respected, because they protect the family. In Africa, there are a lot of economic problems, sometimes people live below the poverty line. And the New Year becomes a great holiday when children's desires and desires of women are realized. You can save money and buy gifts at New Year's sales. On New Year's Eve, a huge number of charity events are arranged: people give their belongings, make gifts to those who need it.

 

Part of the rituals is associated with the formation of intentions for the coming period, the thanksgiving of the year and the entry into a new period of life. For example, in Sudan, people perform ablutions by entering the Nile on the night of December 31. It is believed that on this day all sins are washed away and you can be born again, enter the new year clean. In countries bordering the ocean, people are swimming in it. Ghanaians take to the streets before the New Year and start loudly — the louder, the better — to tell how bad the outgoing year was, and to vent their grievances, anger, jealousy. And with the advent of the new year, they, on the contrary, begin to praise it: they sing songs, dance, tell wonderful stories around the fire about what this year will be like and what they expect from it. Be sure to appeal to the ancestors, thank them for what they patronized in the previous year, and ask to continue patronage, turn to totemic animals. Stories around the campfire can be associated with the tradition of griots – street musicians who tell various stories, dance and sing songs for almsgiving. According to the fairy tales of the griots, you can trace the entire history of Africa, because there are very few written sources left. It's a kind of caste of people who keep history.

 

The modern interpretation of the New Year, along with religion, was brought to Africa by Europeans. As in Europe, in most African countries it is not the New Year that is celebrated more widely, but Christmas according to Catholic norms and canons. Christmas Eve falls on December 24. Along with the holiday, many European traditions migrated to Africa. Of course, the difference in climate affects their reproduction: there is no snow, deer too. Therefore, people instead of a Christmas tree decorate palm and acacia trees with balls and garlands, and instead of deer - local horned animals. This is due, among other things, to the economic background, because many beautiful New Year's toys are sold. They bring jewelry related to the winter theme, and this, of course, creates another atmosphere of celebration and magic. Sometimes artificial snow is used, and it seems to Africans something fabulous, because many of them have never encountered this natural phenomenon. For a person of European tradition, it looks funny: in the hot summer, at a temperature of 36 degrees, all the streets are decorated with garlands and New Year's balls, there are bearded Santa Claus in shorts and T-shirts. This is also a borrowing: in African folklore there is no figure similar to our Santa Claus or Santa Claus.

Of course, the New Year in cities and villages is very different. On December 31, city dwellers gather in the main square and count down the minutes until the coming year, and then open champagne and make wishes. But in African villages you, of course, will not find champagne, there is a completely different understanding of life. Indigenous traditions do not fit in with the European New Year. But strong migration flows associated with the desire of villagers to move to the city and settle there have an impact on the spread of northern traditions. People watch TV and adopt European rules: decorate the house, make gifts to family and friends.