Your Words: Assyrian New Year

Yasmeen Altaji | Apr. 1, 2023

For the Assyrian community, April 1 marks the start of a new year.

Today, community members’ celebrations of the season — including the 12-day Akitu festival leading up to the new year — are diverse: some decorate minimalistic, modern Akitu tables with elegant displays of fruit, wine and literature, while others don traditional clothing and attend buzzing festivals and parades. To some, these traditions are new.

This year, we asked our readers and listeners celebrate. Here is what they said.