The berber calendar begins on the 12th of january, older than the gregorian one, it begins the day where Amazigh Pharaoh Sheshonq I was enthroned 950 years before JC. This berber king founded the 22nd pharaonic dynasty in 950 BC, followed by the 23rd and 24th Amazigh or Berber pharaonic dynasties, over 200 years from 950 BC to 712 BC.

The 12th of january is still a feast day for berber people all around the world.

The berber calendar counts today 12 month as the gregorian one, but originally it was an agrarian calendar based on seasonal events and tasks. These events linked to agriculture are of course numerous during spring and rare during winter. So one find 8 short periods (7 to 14 days) during spring and only 2 during fall or winter.

Furthermore, the berber calendar is dotted with many feasts linked to agricultural events as ploughing beginning, fruit trees fumigation, the beginning of the cold season, the benefic rains period, the one of the baneful rains, ...


©Alain Opériol - 1991-2010 (www.encinaal.fr)