Amazigh New Year in Algeria
Amazigh New Year, called Amenzu n Yennayer in Algeria, falls on January 12 and is a paid legal holiday. The law added it to Algeria’s list of legal holidays in 2018; its place in the calendar and its customs connect the day with Amazigh heritage and the agricultural year.[1][2][3]
A fixed date and national recognition
Algerian Law No. 18-12 added Amenzu n Yennayer, the Amazigh New Year, to the list of legal holidays as a one-day observance on January 12. A government communiqué confirms that the day is chômée et payée—a paid day off—for staff in public institutions and administrations, public and private establishments and offices, and public and private enterprises, including hourly and daily paid workers.[1][2]
The government’s 2018 announcement described the holiday’s recognition as part of promoting Tamazight, Algeria’s Amazigh language, and strengthening national unity. That official framing makes Yennayer in Algeria both a calendar holiday and a public recognition of Amazigh culture.[3]
An agricultural new year
Yennayer is associated with the start of the agricultural year and the winter season. In the oasis communities of the Ksour Mountains in Naâma, the season is also linked to the end of the date harvest and to preparing for agricultural work; residents describe tending palms and irrigation channels as part of that seasonal cycle.[4]
This agricultural meaning is reflected differently across Algeria. A report on celebrations in the M’Zab region of Ghardaïa describes local customs tied to vegetation cycles, the winter season and care of date palms. The specific practices described in one region should not be taken as a single national ritual.[3]
Meals and regional customs
Shared food is one documented part of the celebration. In Naâma, families gather for a festive dinner, and some serve mardoud, also called berkoukes, with vegetables and meat; cherchem, made from soaked and cooked wheat, is another Yennayer dish reported there. Families in some Ksour communities share food with neighbors and passersby.[4]
Foods and public celebrations vary by region. An Algerian radio report documented couscous, rfiss and cherchem at a national event in Algiers, alongside regional clothing, craft displays and parades. Reports from celebrations in several provinces have also described cultural exhibitions, music, readings and activities organized by cultural institutions and associations.[3][5]
What to expect on the holiday
The paid holiday applies broadly to public and private sector staff. The government communiqué says that institutions and businesses with shift-based services must make arrangements to keep those services running. It does not set opening hours for individual banks, shops or transport services, so travelers should check locally before making plans.[2]
The law specifies January 12 as the holiday date. The legal provision and communiqué cited here do not describe a substitute day when January 12 falls on a weekend; the site calendar lists no substitute day.[1][2]
Frequently asked questions
When is Amazigh New Year in Algeria?
It is observed annually on January 12, the date named in Algeria’s legal holiday list.[1]
Is Yennayer a paid day off?
Yes. The government says it is a paid day off for staff across public and private institutions, offices and businesses, including hourly and daily paid workers.[2]
Do all services close?
Shift-based services must arrange for continuity. The communiqué does not specify individual bank, shop or transport hours, so check with the service provider.[2]
Sources and references
Sources used for Amazigh New Year in Algeria:
- Journal Officiel Algérie- Journal officiel de la République algérienne démocratique et populaire
- Communiqué : A l’occasion d’Amenzu n Yennayer, jour de l’an Amazigh- Ministère du Travail, de l’Emploi et de la Sécurité Sociale
- Yennayer: Lancement des festivités de célébration dans plusieurs wilayas- Radio Algérienne
- Nâama: des traditions ancestrales marquent la célébration de Yennayer- Radio Algérienne
- Yennayer 2968 : lancement des festivités officielles à Alger- Radio Algérienne