Syria’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites
Syria’s historical heritage was not spared the ravages of the horrific war that has spanned over a decade. Today, Syria’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites stand in a heartbreaking state of
June 26, 2024
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AKITUAKITU6772 Years of Civilization
Today, Akitu is mainly celebrated by the Assyrian/Aramaean identifying community, Chaldeans (Catholic Assyrians), and all Syrian and Iraqi Christians following the Syriac Orthodox & Catholic churches. It is also significant to many Alawites & Ismailis in the country (altogether, these communities form between 20-30% of Syria).
Our ancestors across the region recognized the importance of celebrating life, renewal, and our fertile lands. Syria today seems to be the antithesis of that, many of our people are desperate for a life worth celebrating, but we remember the many Syrians both in and out of the country who are doing their part in a strive for a better Syria.
Akitu Brikho (Syriac for Blessed Akitu) to every one of those Syrians whose love for our land, history, and belief in our people in spite of everything, never withers away.
The Assyrian New Year, Akitu, also known as Kha b-Nissan (Istof April in Syriac), is often regarded as the oldest festival in the world. Originally celebrated by the Sumerians, and it was later adopted by their successors, the ancient Assyrian, Babylonian, and Akkadian communities of Mesopotamia (modern day Iraq & northeast Syria). Akitu was also celebrated by the Aramaeans across Syria/the Levant, from Palmyra to Damascus and the ancient kingdoms of Ebla and Mari.
Originally rooted in ancient pagan Mesopotamian religions, the spring festival was recognized by ancient communities as the day of the creation of the earth by the patron god – Enlil (Sumerian), Marduk (the Babylonian equivalent) & Ashur (Assyrian). Nissan (April) or Nissanu in Aramaic (and Syrians still use Aramaic names for the months) marked the start of the year, the arrival of spring, and was a celebration of renewal.
Syriac-speaking communities across Syria, Iraq, and the diaspora (numbering in the millions) have reclaimed their ancestor’s festival as a cultural celebration to reassert their identity, especially since the mid 1900’s. In addition to the Assyrian/Aramaean (Syriac-speaking) communities, many other Syrians celebrate Akitu as a cultural festival. Many Syrians from the Mediterranean coast refer to Akitu as (The 4th), and a growing number of non-Syriac-speaking Syrians have called for its recognition as a national festival or The Syrian New Year.
The civilizations mentioned earlier, along with their languages, collapsed. While the Assyrians lived on as a community, their language died out and was replaced by Aramaic across the Levant & Mesopotamia. Syriac, a “modern” derivative of Aramaic, spread around 100 AD coinciding with the growth of Christianity. This meant that Akitu was no longer within the consciousness of people, particularly with the dominance of Islam & the Arabization of the region which took place around 1000 AD.
In short, Akitu was a celebration of life for the ancient communities of Mesopotamia and the Levant. It is an appreciation for the creation of our earth, celebrating the arrival of spring with the sowing of barley, in anticipation for a bountiful harvest. It is also a symbol of a cultural renaissance, as many have reclaimed it as a national festival and strive to recognize the traditions of our indigenous communities which have long been suppressed. Similarly, the spring festival of Newroz (the Persian/Kurdish equivalent of Akitu) is also celebrated by Syria’s sizable Kurdish community on March 20-21.
