Islamic New Year, also known as Hijri New Year, is a public holiday in Djibouti, a predominantly Muslim country located in the Horn of Africa. It marks the beginning of a new Islamic calendar year, which is based on the lunar cycle. The Islamic calendar is approximately 11 days shorter than the Gregorian calendar used in the Western world, so the holiday takes place on a different Gregorian date each year. The New Year starts on the day that Prophet Mohammed emigrated from Mecca to Medina in the year 622, an event known as the Hijra.
In Djibouti, the Islamic New Year is a time for contemplation, prayer, and spending time with family. Many people attend special services at the mosque, while others pray at home. It's a peaceful holiday, with people reflecting on their lives and their faith. The holiday isn't necessarily celebrated with the same sense of festivity as the Western New Year, but it's deeply imbued with spiritual significance. It presents an opportunity to look forward, and to set intentions and goals for the year to come, guided by Islamic values and teachings.
Because the Islamic New Year is a public holiday in Djibouti, schools and most businesses are closed for the day. People may exchange small gifts or cards, but the focus isn't on physical gifts like it is for other holidays. Instead, many people make charitable donations, in keeping with the Islamic principle of Zakat, or charity. Even though the Islamic New Year is a quiet and contemplative time, it's also a day of hope and renewal, where people come together in a spirit of unity and reflection.