Geez New Year in Eritrea

2026-09-11 Asmara

The Geez New Year, or Kudus Yohannes (St. John's Day), is celebrated in Eritrea on September 11 (or 12 in a leap year), marking the end of the rainy season and the beginning of a new, prosperous cycle. It is marked by vibrant community feasts, church services, and traditional rituals like lighting bonfires and exchanging blessings, with greetings commonly being "Rhuus Beal Kidus Yohannes!". A unique tradition involves people lighting wood fire and jumping over them saying "Hoye Hoye", often while singing, to honor the New Year. Families gather to share meals, typically featuring injera and stews, while often sharing a freshly slaughtered sheep or goat, sometimes in a communal, cost-sharing manner known as guzzi. Young people visit relatives and friends, exchanging wishes for health and prosperity.