Assyrian New Year

Atiku, or Assyrian New Year, is also known as Kha b 'Nisan, meaning "first day of April" (Nisan is the Assyrian month of April), and Resha d'Sheta, meaning “The beginning of the year". Just like in the olden days, the holiday marks the beginning of the New Year and the first day of spring. Historically, the New Year was a symbol of revival, and was celebrated for 12 days. A symbol of revival was a theme in ancient Assyrian mythology. Atiku was known as the most important holiday in ancient Assyria and today Atiku also is the most important national Assyrian holiday. It connects ancient and contemporary Assyrians and is celebrated by Assyrians no matter where in the world they live and regardless of their background - whether they are Syriac, Aramean or Chaldean Assyrians.

When the Assyrians became Christians, they adopted the Gregorian calendar and shifted the date of the holiday but in the last, according to the ancient calendar, the Assyrian New Year coincided with the Spring Equinox. The myth was at the heart of the times: the goddess of love married the plant god during the Spring Equinox and it brought new life and fertility to the Earth. In ancient times, tens of thousands of people in the Assyrian Empire went to Nineveh, the capital of the empire, for the festival. Processions and weddings are important components of the festival. Other traditions include telling stories, sharing poetry, gambling, divination, and sowing barley.

Today, the Assyrian New Year is celebrated with parades, parades, parties, and festivals. Deqna Nissan - which means "April's beard" or "spring's beard" - is an ancient tradition that still stands today. Girls and women pick flowers, herbs and grass and make garlands to string from their roofs or hang on their doors. Jokes are now often part of the day, as it also happens to be April Fools' Day.

How to observe the Assyrian New Year

Celebrate by attending an Assyrian New Year's festival or carnival. One of the most prominent festivals is held in Sydney, Australia, and one of the largest parades takes place in Chicago. You can join Deqna Nissan by picking flowers together and making a bouquet or wreath to hang on your roof or front door. Some other ideas might be reading a book on Assyrian history or watching a documentary like The Last Assyrian.