Yennayer, or the Berber New Year, is a traditional North African holiday that is widely celebrated across Algeria. This holiday marks the first day of the Berber Calendar year, which is an agricultural calendar still used by Berber communities today. While the exact date can vary, Yennayer typically falls on January 12th, or the twelfth day of the month of January according to the Gregorian calendar.
The celebration of Yennayer dates back thousands of years, long before Algeria became a Muslim country. It's a remnant of the pre-Islamic Amazigh culture that persists to this date. Special traditions and customs are observed during this holiday. Families get together to prepare and share a feast of traditional foods - notably couscous, which is widely regarded as a symbol of prosperity for the Amazigh people.
In 2018, Yennayer was officially recognized as a national holiday in Algeria. This laid a significant milestone in the country’s recognition of the Berber culture, and was hailed as a significant gesture to maintain cultural diversity and the rich heritage of Algeria. The official recognition of Yennayer was celebrated with hundreds of cultural events, music shows, and traditional Berber singing and dancing.