(Photo: Crowd watches performance during the Ethiopian new year celebration at Guadalupe River Park Arena Green West in downtown San Jose, Calif., on Sunday, Sept. 8, 2013. Credit: Josie Lepe/Bay Area News Group)
Tadias Magazine
By Tadias Staff
Published: Friday, August 14th, 2015
New York (TADIAS) — The city of San Jose, California will host the 11th annual Ethiopian heritage flag raising ceremony next month kicking off a week-long festival in celebration of Ethiopian New Year.
The Ethiopian American Council (EAC) announced that the ceremony, which is scheduled to take place at the new City Hall on Wednesday, September 9th, will be attended by city officials including the Mayor, Vice-Mayor and City Council members.
“The Ethiopian-American community of San Jose, under the auspices of the Ethiopian American Council will use this event to acknowledge and praise those that have made significant contributions to the Ethiopian community of San Jose,” EAC said.
The organization is “encouraging all Ethiopians, Ethiopian Americans, and their friends and families to join” in the celebration. In a press release EAC added: “San Jose is the only city in the nation to have established this traditional, annual acknowledgment of the heritage and history of Ethiopian Americans. The EAC especially wants to thank the citizens of San Jose for their recognition of the diversity that has made this country so great and offering the Ethiopian American community a time and a place to come together and take pride in their heritage.”
The San Jose Masonic Center is among those that will be acknowledged. “For the last 25 years, the center has provided the use of its facilities for many events, both large and small, that have been extremely important to the Ethiopian American community,” EAC stated. “Debre Yibaba Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church is yet another organization. The church has proved to be a guiding beacon and a source of traditional strength for the San Jose Ethiopian American community.”
The Young Ethiopian Professionals in Action (YEPA) group will also receive recognition in partnership with Ethiopian Community Services and Abyssinia Cultural Dancers. In addition, EAC will share its appreciation of retired teacher Mekebeb Siamergne. “For the last 30 years, this retired teacher has dedicated his time and energy to the Ethiopian community in San Jose. He teaches youngsters Amharic, and he offers tutoring in Math, English, and other core disciplines. He offers these services at no cost – as service to his community.”
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If You Go:
Wednesday, September 9th, 2015 at 5:00 p.m
New City Hall (200 East Santa Clara Street)
San Jose, California
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