The New Year air is supposed to be filled with a sense of renewal and continuity—a blend of the familiar and the evolving. This annual cycle, while a marker of time’s passage, also serves as a moment of reflection on the changes that have shaped our lives. It is a time when tradition meets transformation, where the old and the new coexist in a delicate balance.

In Addis Abeba, the skyline is rapidly evolving, with new buildings and infrastructure projects altering the topography almost daily. Streets like Africa Avenue (Bole Road) gleam with newly installed street and building lights while main roads are adorned with pedestrian and bike lanes. The expansion of these roads is part of the city’s broader push toward modernisation, to accommodate the ever-growing population and increasing traffic demands. However, other areas, particularly those with ongoing construction and unpaved roads, are faced with muddy chaos and occasional flooding, where cars seem to float like boats in a swollen river. The contrast between the modernised areas and those left behind is stark, reminding us that change, while inevitable, does not touch all places equally.

With the current rate of progress, the city will be unrecognisable to those who visit after years away. Even residents sometimes find it difficult to cope with the pace of change. There are instances where familiar landmarks disappear, replaced by new buildings or infrastructure projects. I recall confidently heading to a favourite restaurant, only to find it had been replaced by a new construction site. Such moments are jarring, serving as reminders that nothing in life is permanent, though it takes time to fully internalise this reality.

The constant transformation of the cityscape reflects the broader theme of the new year—an acknowledgement of time's passage and the changes it brings, both welcomed and lamented.

Amidst this urban transformation, the rituals in the weeks leading up to the holiday offer a comforting sense of continuity. The holiday coincides with the end of the rainy season and the beginning of the harvest. Fields are lush with greenery, and the air is filled with the fragrance of blooming flowers, particularly the iconic yellow daisies, Adey Abeba. This natural backdrop mirrors the spirit of hope and renewal that defines the new year.

For the younger generation, the season also marks a return to routine as schools reopen, and the streets become more congested. The rainy season, with its lighter traffic due to school closures, offers a brief respite. Children, free from the demands of school, find solace in the quiet of their homes or the chaos of neighbourhood play. Parents prepare their children for the new school year, shopping for supplies and uniforms, while the children themselves grapple with the mixed emotions of returning to the classroom.

This return to routine also highlights a growing trend among families—enrolling children in extracurricular activities that build discipline and character. Martial arts classes, in particular, have become popular, with young children donning their white uniforms and colourful belts, eager to learn the skills that will serve them in life. These activities, while modern in their approach, are deeply rooted in the traditional values of discipline, respect, and hard work. They represent a bridge between the old and the new, ensuring that while the city and its inhabitants may change, the core values that define the society remain.

New year is essentially brought forth with the cycle of time like any other day of the year. However, people still place great importance on it, even though, after a few weeks, it feels just like the previous years. It is, as the saying goes, the same old, same old. A year signifies the duration of one trip for our planet to orbit the sun, with the corresponding seasons behaving according to their proximity to the smiling sun.