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In the News

Ethiopian New Year celebrations

In what was organizers called one of the Washington metropolitan area’s largest gathering of Ethiopians in the region, thousands of people came from Virginia, Maryland and the District on Sunday to mark the Ethiopian New Year.

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Sept. 9, 2012

Tewedage Yohanes, left, and Berhan Teferi, both of Alexandria, hang the Ethiopian and United States flags at the Ethiopian New Year celebration at the Washington Monument. Like the Chinese New Year and St. Patrick's Day, a group of Ethiopian American activists and artists want to make the Ethiopian New Year a part of the city’s mainstream celebrations. The District has the highest concentration of Ethiopian expatriates in the United States.

Jahi Chikwendiu / The Washington Post

Bethlehem Afework, 3, of Alexandria plays with the Ethiopian flag at the celebration at the Washington Monument. An organization called the Ethiopian African 2000 Millennium Group is behind the event.

Sept. 9, 2012

Bethlehem Afework, 3, of Alexandria plays with the Ethiopian flag at the celebration at the Washington Monument. An organization called the Ethiopian African 2000 Millennium Group is behind the event.

Jahi Chikwendiu / The Washington Post

Young girls play among the crowd at the Ethiopian New Year celebration on the Mall. Traditional Ethiopian music filled the cool evening air, and “I Love Ethiopia” baseball hats and English-language children’s books explaining Ethiopian holidays were available.

Sept. 9, 2012

Young girls play among the crowd at the Ethiopian New Year celebration on the Mall. Traditional Ethiopian music filled the cool evening air, and “I Love Ethiopia” baseball hats and English-language children’s books explaining Ethiopian holidays were available.

Jahi Chikwendiu / The Washington Post

Yonas Dagnew, center, of Woodbridge poses for pictures with his children, Sandros Melakeberhan, 6, left, and Simon Melakeberhan, 4, near the Washington Monument. The family was sporting the colors of the Ethiopian flag.

Sept. 9, 2012

Yonas Dagnew, center, of Woodbridge poses for pictures with his children, Sandros Melakeberhan, 6, left, and Simon Melakeberhan, 4, near the Washington Monument. The family was sporting the colors of the Ethiopian flag.

Jahi Chikwendiu / The Washington Post

Simon Alemu, 9, of Arlington County, is caught in the crush of people trying to get free T-shirts at the Ethiopian new year celebration on the Mall.

Sept. 9, 2012

Simon Alemu, 9, of Arlington County, is caught in the crush of people trying to get free T-shirts at the Ethiopian new year celebration on the Mall.

Jahi Chikwendiu / The Washington Post

Three generations of Ethiopian women — grandmother Kefayd Demissie, Megdelawit Amde and Elise-Sabel Amde-Delattre, 3, all of Fairfax, enjoy the Ethiopian New Year celebration. During the New Year, Ethiopians around the world attend prayer services, visit with family, exchange gifts and host colorful processions. Village children go door to door handing out fresh flowers to neighbors.

Sept. 9, 2012

Three generations of Ethiopian women — grandmother Kefayd Demissie, Megdelawit Amde and Elise-Sabel Amde-Delattre, 3, all of Fairfax, enjoy the Ethiopian New Year celebration. During the New Year, Ethiopians around the world attend prayer services, visit with family, exchange gifts and host colorful processions. Village children go door to door handing out fresh flowers to neighbors.

Jahi Chikwendiu / The Washington Post

The Kegnet Cultural Group performs at the Ethiopian New Year festivities as the sun sets over the Mall.

Sept. 9, 2012

The Kegnet Cultural Group performs at the Ethiopian New Year festivities as the sun sets over the Mall.

Jahi Chikwendiu / The Washington Post

The Kegnet Cultural Group performs at the Ethiopian New Year celebration on the Mall. This year, organizers decided it was better to hold the celebration on a Sunday, two days before Sept. 11 — the actual new year — in part so families won’t have to miss work or school. “Plus no one will wonder why Ethiopians are lighting bamboo torches that we call Chibos and dancing and singing on the grounds of the Washington Monument on 9/11,” said Anteneh Demelash, one of the co-founders of the organizing Millennium group.

Sept. 9, 2012

The Kegnet Cultural Group performs at the Ethiopian New Year celebration on the Mall. This year, organizers decided it was better to hold the celebration on a Sunday, two days before Sept. 11 — the actual new year — in part so families won’t have to miss work or school. “Plus no one will wonder why Ethiopians are lighting bamboo torches that we call Chibos and dancing and singing on the grounds of the Washington Monument on 9/11,” said Anteneh Demelash, one of the co-founders of the organizing Millennium group.

Jahi Chikwendiu / The Washington Post

Diko Asfaw of Alexandria and other members of the Kegnet Cultural Group perform at the Ethiopian New Year celebration.

Sept. 9, 2012

Diko Asfaw of Alexandria and other members of the Kegnet Cultural Group perform at the Ethiopian New Year celebration.

Jahi Chikwendiu / The Washington Post

People gather to see the lighting of the new year's fire at the celebration on the Mall. Many were wearing glow sticks in the colors of the Ethiopian flag.

Sept. 9, 2012

People gather to see the lighting of the new year's fire at the celebration on the Mall. Many were wearing glow sticks in the colors of the Ethiopian flag.

Jahi Chikwendiu / The Washington Post

People of Ethiopian lineage light torches around the new year's fire at the Ethiopian New Year celebration.

Sept. 9, 2012

People of Ethiopian lineage light torches around the new year's fire at the Ethiopian New Year celebration.

Jahi Chikwendiu / The Washington Post

Alamayahu Haile, vice chair of the Ethiopian African 2000 Millennium Group, waves a flag toward the crowd to close the Ethiopian New Year celebration at the Washington Monument.

Sept. 9, 2012

Alamayahu Haile, vice chair of the Ethiopian African 2000 Millennium Group, waves a flag toward the crowd to close the Ethiopian New Year celebration at the Washington Monument.

Jahi Chikwendiu / The Washington Post

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