Asseggas Ameggaz
It comes on 12th of January. Our first month of the year is called: Yennayer. This is a Berber compound word, that consists of two parts:
- Yen, derives from Yiwen (meaning 1 or the first in the different dialect of Tamazight).
- Ayyer or in some dialects Ayyur (means month or the moon).
So, it literally means: the first month.
lots of Imazighen associate the months and seasons of the Berber calendar with specific activities. for example, the seasons of cultivation or harvest of certain produce. i.e olives, wheat, quinces, figs, chestnuts, acorns and so on. the seasons are also defined by the food cooked and cakes made, for instance, the making of el Mella (or Lebraaj) indicates the welcoming of Spring. Berkoukes indicates the beginning and the end of Winter. Cousous dressing define the seasons too. It's usually served with hot red/white sauce with lots of meat and veggies or fish during the cold seasons; and with pomegranate, raisins, and sour milk in the hotter seasons.
The Berber calendar is not entirely defined by the agricultural timing and activities of the Imazighen. The count started a long time ago, way before Jesus Christ was born and the Gregorian count started.
About 950 years BC a great Amazigh leader called: Chichnaq (or Shishnaq) stopped the Egyptian Pharoah's imperial expansion and fought it back all the way to Egypt where he took over and became the first Pharaoh Amazigh origin to rule over Egypt.
Some of the traditional habits of celebrating the first of Yennayer in Algeria:
Imazighen form several tribes and these latter's ways of celebrating differ naturally.
The kabyle Tribe in North Algeria tend to cook chicken for dinner. The family members gather to enjoy a hot supper of either roasted chicken with legumes and veggies or Couscous with chick sauce.
The other tribes such as the Chaouis make other traditional diches with eggs and chicken too. Dinner would either be Chakhchoukha lewraq , Trida, Chakhchoukhat edfar or Tlitli.
The tribes in Tlemcen and Oran, also make Tamina or rfiss. They cook stew with legumes.
Some tribes in North central Algeria make Thighrifin, or Baghreer. A kind of soft crumpets. They are usually consumed with oilive oil an sugar or syrup.
The Tuareg of the Sahara, Muzabits, Chleuh, Riff and Syphaxits tribes also rejoice in celebrating with treats and traditional dishes. The Amazigh in the Canary islands cheered with their flags flying up high.
A relative of mine has most of her family members living in villages in the mountain. When I asked about what they do, she said:
"in our village, we make Thighrifine on 11th January. The first crepe is shredded into small pieces that are put in many houses of the village. The bit are also put in every corner of the houses so that insects and mince could have some. this first thighrifine symbolises the first month of the new year, by splitting it and spreading the bits across the houses and the villages the people hope for a generous year and one that involves a lot of sustenance and sharing of goodies. This activity is called: Imenssi Ivel3ash. which means: bugs dinners.
The rest of the thighrifine are eaten by the family members.
On the next day, 12th January, we prepare Couscous with a special sauce called: Asseqi n seváa Issoufare. Which means: the sauce with the seven legumes i.e. lentils, 2 kinds of broad beans, black eyed peas, 2 kinds of beans, and the seventh is a kind of spices with salt. on that day we also make or get Teraze, which is a bag full of nuts and seeds, chocolate and other treats. other tribes though that has these treats on 13th January. I saw a neighbouring tribe utting a toddler or a baby in a big wooden container and surrounding the little one with these treats as a symbol of goodness, happy days and good luck. Everybody, then, starts eating from it as a good omen call."
I also, interviewed some members of my FIL who told me that chicken is the main ingredients. In addition, Henna is applied on childen's hands and lots of nuts, seeds and sweet treats are eated and offered.
Imazighen across the globe cheer with the Amazigh flag and express their happy wishes and greeting. The family members get together and wish each other Asseggas Ameggaz . (happy new year)
2964 was Mimoza's first Yennayer, so she got herself into a beautiful orange Amazigh dress. She also wore all her Amazigh silver jewellery. I cooked some chicken in sauce for Chakhchokha.
On the 13th we had some Algerian cakes with Tamina Oran style made by a lovely friend. they were yummylicious. I helped out in the making of knidlettes. praised be to God. :)
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| Atoofa's Tamina, made in west Algeria - super yummy and healthier. |
and some Henna,
Cheers xx
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