Across North Africa, Berbers are gathering to welcome the year 2976.
No, they didn't discover time travel, but they are almost a thousand years "ahead" of most of the world because they follow a calendar that begins in 950 BC, when King Sheshonk ascended the Egyptian throne.
The Berber New Year, known as Jenajar, begins between January 12 and 14, depending on the areas they live in in Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia and Libya, and in the final days, families have been throwing lavish feasts and playing traditional music.
Shout "aseggas ameggaz" which means "Happy New Year," echoed through villages and busy city streets.
For this occasion, people wore colorful, carefully embroidered traditional costumes.
The Berbers (meaning "free people" or "noble people") are a diverse group of indigenous ethnic groups in North Africa who have inhabited the region since the beginning of recorded history.
The exact population size is unknown due to a lack of official statistics, but it is estimated that tens of millions of Berbers live across North Africa.
The largest number live in Algeria and Morocco, where 40 percent of the population is believed to be of Amazigh origin.
Janajir is celebrated with family, and it is celebrated in connection with nature.
Since the Berbers are a diverse community, traditional dishes vary from country to country and even from region to region.
In Morocco, a rich mix of legumes, spices, and whole grains is a favorite dish for New Year's Eve.
After the main meal, many families in Algeria enjoy awake, a combination of sweets, dried fruits and nuts.
This mixture is sometimes symbolically thrown over the youngest child, as it is believed that there will be prosperity in the coming year.
But Yenjir is not just a family holiday.
It is celebrated throughout the community.
Parades, concerts and carnivals are organized that bring the New Year spirit to the streets.
Such proud displays of Berber culture are particularly significant, as the community has long been marginalized.
In the 7th century, when Arab conquerors swept across North Africa, they brought the language and the Islamic religion.
Both were officially adopted, often to the detriment of Berber languages and culture.
During the rule of Muammar el-Gaddafi in Libya, the Berber language Tamazight It was banned in schools, and parents were not even allowed to give their children Berber names.
However, thanks to the persistent struggle of Berber activists, their culture and language have been receiving increasing recognition over the last decade.
In 2011, the Moroccan authorities recognized Tamazight as an official language.
Algeria and Morocco have also declared Janira a national holiday.
That's why Yenjir is not just a celebration, it reminds us of the long-standing struggle that brought this community to where it is today - in the year 2976.
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