“The Opening of the Year”

The New Year and Ancient Egypt

We tend to think of New Year as a date on a calendar — January 1st, a countdown, a ball dropping in NYC, a glass raised at midnight. But for the ancient Egyptians, the new year didn’t begin because humans declared it so.

It began because the universe said it was time to begin.

A Star, Not a Calendar

The ancient Egyptian New Year was called Wepet Renpet,which translates to “The Opening of the Year.” And that opening was not marked by a number, a page turn, or a clock striking midnight.

It was marked by a star.

Each year, just before sunrise, the brightest star in the night sky — Sirius — would briefly appear on the eastern horizon after weeks of absence. This moment, known as its heliacal rising, happened with remarkable regularity.

And when Sirius rose, something else soon followed.

The Nile flooded.

When Water Meant Life

To modern eyes, flooding suggests disaster. To ancient Egypt, it meant survival.

The Nile’s annual inundation deposited rich, fertile silt across the fields. Crops would grow. Communities would eat. Civilization would continue. Without this flood, Egypt could not exist as it did.

So when Sirius appeared in the dawn sky, it wasn’t simply an astronomical curiosity — it was a promise of life.

The new year began not with celebration alone, but with relief, gratitude, and reverence. Could you imagine the effects it must’ve had on the people of the Nile?

Renewal of the World

For the Egyptians, time wasn’t just something that passed — it was something that renewed itself.

They believed the universe existed in a delicate balance between order (ma’at) and chaos (isfet). At moments of transition — especially the turning of the year — that balance was vulnerable. The old year dissolved. The new one had not yet fully formed.

That made New Year a powerful, liminal moment.

It was a time for purification rituals, offerings in temples, protective amulets, music, food, and communal gatherings. It was not a party in the modern sense, but it was absolutely a celebration — one rooted in gratitude and cosmic awareness.

Sacred Knowledge and Study

This wasn’t guesswork.

Egyptian priests and scribes carefully studied the heavens. Astronomy, mathematics, and calendar reckoning were sacred disciplines. The civil calendar of 365 days worked alongside direct sky observation, and temples kept meticulous records of celestial cycles.

The god Thoth, associated with knowledge, writing, and time itself, was deeply connected to this understanding. Time was not casual or abstract — it was holy.

The Danger of New Beginnings

Interestingly, the days surrounding New Year were sometimes considered unstable or dangerous. Protective spells were used. Certain activities were avoided. New beginnings were powerful, but power demanded respect.

The Egyptians understood something we often forget: change is sacred, but it is not harmless.

A Different Way to Think About Time

What strikes me most is this: the Egyptian New Year was not arbitrary.

It wasn’t chosen by decree.
It wasn’t negotiated.
It wasn’t imposed.

It was observed.

The people watched the sky. They listened to the land. They waited for signs larger than themselves. And when those signs appeared, they responded with reverence.

In ancient Egypt, time wasn’t owned by humans.

It was witnessed.

Happy New Year from Rick Long’s Egypt & Wonder!!

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