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Yesterday, Wednesday, popular celebrations of the Amazigh New Year 2972 were held in Algeria. Since 2017 AD, it has been set on January 12 of each year, as an official holiday in the country.
The village of Azra in the state of Tizi Ouzou, east of the capital, which is the most important Berber region, hosted popular celebrations on this occasion, through exhibitions of food, clothing and traditional industries that highlight the Berber customs of the region through the ages. The village also received tourist delegations from many other cities who participated in their celebrations.
With family
“It is our custom to celebrate this occasion with the family, where we gather on a plate of couscous that combines the rich and the poor, and we prepare it in a traditional way with 7 types of vegetables, in honor of an abundant agricultural crop,” Zainab Lwalitin, a resident of the village, told Anadolu Agency.
And she adds, “The women and I collaborate to prepare in a joyful atmosphere, where we sing some traditional songs, and we stay up together to celebrate the Amazigh New Year. We wish a happy new year to everyone in the hope that God will lift the Corona epidemic from us.”
The village of Azra celebrates the cultural heritage of the Amazigh New Year and receives tourists from all over Algeria (Anatolia)Tourism and culture
As a tourist, Hanan Qased, head of the (non-governmental) Safir Cultural Association, visited the village, and told Anadolu Agency, “On the occasion of the celebration of the Berber New Year in January, we preferred to come to the village of Azra.”
“During the visit, we discovered the traditions and customs of the tribesmen and their celebrations, such as weddings and dinners, which reflect their generosity like all Algerians,” she said.
And she added, “We came to the village to celebrate, because it is a village that expresses our identity, culture and heritage. We wanted to introduce it and set an example for other villages in all the provinces of Algeria.”
Amazigh history in Algeria goes back to 950 years before the birth of Jesus Ibn Mary, peace be upon him (Anatolia)Amazigh history
The beginning of Amazigh history in Algeria goes back to 950 years before the birth of Jesus, Jesus ibn Maryam, peace be upon him.
It begins on January 13, and celebrations for this night take place on the 12th of the same month.
January symbolizes the celebration of the land and agriculture in general, with optimism for a good year and abundant yields for farmers and people (Anatolia)There are two historical narratives about the origin of the celebration of this occasion. The first is that “January” symbolizes the celebration of the land and agriculture in general, with optimism for a good year and abundant yields for farmers and people.
As for the second, it says that it is the day when the Berber king “Shachnak” defeated the Egyptian pharaoh “Ramses II” in Egypt.
The Berbers are defined as indigenous peoples who inhabit the area extending from Siwa Oasis in western Egypt in the east, to the Atlantic Ocean in the west, and from the Mediterranean in the north to the Great Desert in the south.
