The phrase "11th september ethiopia" functions grammatically as a proper noun phrase. It specifically identifies the date of the Ethiopian New Year, a major national holiday known as Enkutatash. This day marks the beginning of the month of Meskerem in the Ethiopian calendar, which corresponds to September 11th in the Gregorian calendar, or September 12th in the year preceding a Gregorian leap year.
The correspondence is a result of the Ethiopian calendar system, which is a solar calendar derived from the Coptic calendar. It is approximately seven to eight years behind the Gregorian calendar due to a different calculation for the date of the Annunciation. The Ethiopian calendar features twelve months of 30 days each, followed by a thirteenth "ephagomenal" month called Pagume, which has five or six days. Enkutatash signifies the end of the heavy rainy season and the beginning of spring, a time of renewed harvest and blooming flowers. The name itself, meaning "gift of jewels," is traditionally associated with the Queen of Sheba's return to Ethiopia after her visit to King Solomon.
Culturally, the day is a celebration of renewal, family, and nature. Festivities include large family gatherings, traditional feasts featuring dishes like doro wat (chicken stew), and the brewing of fresh coffee. Children, often dressed in new clothes, participate by singing songs and presenting bouquets of the iconic yellow Adey Abeba flower, which blooms specifically during this season. As a significant religious and secular event, it is a time for forgiveness and optimism, holding a celebratory meaning that is entirely distinct from the solemn connotations associated with September 11th in many other parts of the world.
