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NEW YEAR REFLECTIONS

From the land of origins Ethiopia, I send you all my warmest New Year wishes.

January 01 marks the New Year for many people around the world just as here in Ethiopia New Year is celebrated by some but the Ethiopian Holy Days of  Christmas and Timket are celebrated by millions of Ethiopians both at home in Ethiopia or abroad.

The New Year is a time which brings us new hope, new beginnings and a fresh start. Owing to that, many of us plan new year resolutions: to buy something we really wanted for a while, to stop a longstanding bad habit, or to even start a new routine. 

Sunrises are those breath taking moments when the first rays of light shine to break the dawn, bringing a new horizon, a new day full of possibilities.

In Japan, there is a tradition that connects these two observances.

Hatsuhinode, the first sunrise of the year, is an important tradition adhered by waking up at dawn to witness the first sunrise on New Year’s Day. Whether you’re watching from a shrine or mountaintop, this spectacular sight will set the tone for the whole year ahead!

Photograph: Sunrise at Lake Asale, Danakil Depression, Ethiopia

Michael is a travel photographer here in Ethiopia

 instagram.com/mickey.251

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