No Result
View All Result
Thursday, July 3, 2025
23 °c
Tripoli
24 ° Sat
24 ° Sun
  • Advertising
  • Contact
LibyaHerald
  • Home
  • Libya
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Magazine
  • Advertising
  • Login
  • Register
SUBSCRIBE
  • Home
  • Libya
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Magazine
  • Advertising
  • Login
  • Register
No Result
View All Result
LibyaHerald
No Result
View All Result
Home Libya

An Amazigh(ing) New Year

byMichel Cousins
January 15, 2014
Reading Time: 2 mins read
A A

By Taziz Hasairi.

1555547_727492600596257_931449355_n

Tripoli, 13 January 2014:

For Libya’s Amazigh community, today is a double festival.  It is both Mawlid Al-Nabi, the Prophet’s Birthday – and, as such, a public holiday – and it is Amazigh New Year. 

Unlike the Islamic calendar which is lunar, the Amazigh calendar, like the Gregorian, is solar and the new year starts on 13 January.  Today is the first day of the year 2964.

RELATED POSTS

Tripoli government forces regain control over Ras Jedir Libyan-Tunisian border crossing

Armed clashes between government forces and local Zuwara forces at Libyan-Tunisian border crossing – Tunisia closes border

The calendar  starts from 950 BC, the supposed date of when Sheshonq, the son of the ruler of  the Amazigh Almhaouac tribe, defeated the Egyptians and became Pharoah.  He ruled Egypt until 929 BC

Although there are historians who cast doubt on the origins of the calendar, Amazigh New Year it is now an major event for Amazighis in Libya, Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia as well as in diaspora communities in France, Germany and the US, a day when they celebrate their culture and history.

Before the revolution, the amazigh were not allowed to celebrate Amazigh New Year or put up signs and posters using the Amazigh alphabet. That has changed, and last year, the Culture Ministry sponsored a festival for the occasion. It did not happen this year, however, although on a more practical level of support, the Education Ministry is to fund classes in the Amazigh language, Tamzight, in Amazigh area schools.

An Amazigh petition last year to make 13 January a national public holiday was ignored by the General National Congress.  The fact that this year it is is a coincidence. [/restrict]

Tags: amazighfeaturedLibya

Related Posts

Libya Herald exclusive: Responding to the prime minister’s call yesterday to the private sector and banks to do more, leading businessman Husni Bey responds
Business

Op-Ed: Reputational Damage Is Worse Than Losing Money

July 2, 2025
Libyan Russian Economic Forum starts in St. Petersburg
Libya

Libyan Russian Economic Forum starts in St. Petersburg

June 27, 2025
MoI establishes Elections Security and Protection Department
Libya

Aldabaiba and Menfi stress use of polling feedback to establish consensus basis for constitutional process: report and analysis

June 26, 2025
GNU to take oath at Benghazi HoR session and budget to be approved at Tripoli session: GNU
Libya

“There is no state built by gangs and criminality, it’s built by engineers, youth, consultants, security, police and army”: Aldabaiba

June 23, 2025
GNU to take oath at Benghazi HoR session and budget to be approved at Tripoli session: GNU
Libya

187 new security posts taken over from militias – PM declares victory for the state as all vital Tripoli sites come under its exclusive control for the first time since 2011

June 19, 2025
Interior Ministry’s Diplomatic Missions Protection personnel receiving training in Ukraine
Libya

The Interior Ministry had spent LD 50 billion in 13 years with no result: Acting Interior Minister Trabelsi

June 17, 2025
Next Post

Saiqa officer reported murdered in Derna

Firework injury figures in Tripoli now put at 640

ADVERTISEMENT

Top Stories

  • Libyan Italian Forum concludes with the signing of 98 MoUs

    Libyan Italian Forum concludes with the signing of 98 MoUs

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • CBL reveals discovery of LD 3.5 billion in counterfeit 50-dinar notes printed in Russia – PM calls on Attorney General to open investigation

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • First scheduled flight lands at Kufra airport – good news for Libya’s wider aviation sector

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Three Libyan companies win awards in Athens International Olive Oil Competition ‎

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Libyan Russian Economic Forum starts in St. Petersburg

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
ADVERTISEMENT
LibyaHerald

The Libya Herald first appeared on 17 February 2012 – the first anniversary of the Libyan Revolution. Since then, it has become a favourite go-to source on news about Libya, for many in Libya and around the world, regularly attracting millions of hits.

Recent News

A 247,000-bpd oil production increase would achieve US$ 6 billion annually to enhance ability to meet FX demand, maintain strength of LD and achieve economic balance: CBL ‎

Op-Ed: Reputational Damage Is Worse Than Losing Money

Sitemap

  • Why subscribe?
  • Terms & Conditions
  • FAQs
  • Copyright & Intellectual Property Rights
  • Subscribe now

Newsletters

    Be the first to know latest important news & events directly to your inbox.

    Sending ...

    By signing up, I agree to our TOS and Privacy Policy.

    © 2022 LibyaHerald - Powered by Sparx Solutions.

    Welcome Back!

    Login to your account below

    Forgotten Password? Sign Up

    Create New Account!

    Fill the forms below to register

    *By registering into our website, you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.
    All fields are required. Log In

    Retrieve your password

    Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

    Log In
    No Result
    View All Result
    • Login
    • Sign Up
    • Libya
    • Business
    • Advertising
    • About us
    • BusinessEye Magazine
    • Letters
    • Features
    • Why subscribe?
    • FAQs
    • Contact

    © 2022 LibyaHerald - Powered by Sparx Solutions.

    This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.