The Amazigh people, one of the largest and oldest ethnic groups in North Africa, living in Algeria, are celebrating the year 2976 according to the local calendar.
Celebrations were held in the village of Ait Bouhini in the Tizi Ouzou province of northeastern Algeria to mark the new year.
According to legend, the Amazigh people consider January 12, the day when the Berber king Shisnak triumphed over the Egyptian pharaoh Ramses II, as New Year's Day (Yennayer).
This special day, celebrated as New Year's Day and as a holiday, is kept alive through traditions passed down from generation to generation, reflecting the values of solidarity and mutual assistance.
One of the most popular celebration rituals is the "vaade," which involves villagers and guests from outside gathering at the same table.
In this tradition, everyone, regardless of wealth, age, or social status, eats together.
Hakim Yugurta Shekini, a village resident, said the celebrations are based on an early agricultural calendar, saying: "This festival means uniting the villagers in one place, welcoming the new year without forgetting the poor."
Shekini explained that in the past, everyone ate together from large wooden or clay plates, and this tradition continues today.
The events also included regional musical performances and the village was decorated with traditional carpets and pottery.
In Algeria, where January 12 is an official holiday, the Amazigh people organize various events across the country for three days as part of the "Yennayer" celebrations.
The Amazigh are known as one of the oldest peoples living in North Africa, particularly in Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Egypt and parts of Libya.
The Amazigh people make up about 30 percent of Algeria's population of 45 million.
The Algerian government made Amazigh an official language in 2011 and declared January 12 an official holiday in 2018 to celebrate the Amazigh New Year. /AA/
