Al-Hasakah
On Tuesday, April 1, the Assyrian Syriac people in northern and eastern Syria celebrated Akito, marking the year 6775 according to the Babylonian-Assyrian calendar.
Hundreds of Assyrian Syriac and other participants gathered in the villages of Cree Sheeran in the countryside of the town of Qahtaniyah (Turba Speh) east of Hasakah, Tal Wardayat in the countryside of Tal Tamar north of Hasakah, and Hakimiya in the northeast of the province.
Dressed in traditional Assyrian Syriac folkloric attire, the attendees formed dance circles and sang festive songs to mark the occasion.
Akito, also known as the Feast of Resurrection and Renewal, is a national day for the Assyrian Syriac people, symbolizing peace, love and tolerance. It represents their cultural identity, which they were prevented from fully expressing for decades.
Georgette Barsum, an official of the Syriac Women’s Union in Syria and a participant in the celebration, emphasized the importance of Akito stating, “For the Assyrian Syriac people, this is a symbol of pluralism and a stand against the politics of identity obliteration and marginalization. People gather in dance circles and sing joyfully, dressed in traditional Syriac attire.”
Speaking to +963, Barsum added, “This is the first time we celebrate Akita after the fall of the ousted regime, and it is special because, as an Assyrian Syriac we were deprived of the right to celebrate our holidays.”
Istyfu Masood, a representative of the Syriac Union Party, highlighted the significance of the celebration, saying, “This holiday means a lot to the Assyrian Syriac people as it symbolizes the resurrection and renewal of the covenant between gods and humans.” He added, “We hope for a Syria that safeguards the rights of all peoples without discrimination.”
Humber Hassan, a Kurdish citizen from Amuda in northeastern Syria, also attended the event. He shared his joy, telling +963, “We came to celebrate Akito with our Assyrian Syriac friends, just as we celebrated Nurwz. These holidays represent a history of existence, civilization, legacy and the revival of Indigenous cultures. I’m very happy to be part of this celebration.”
The Assyrian Syriac people hope that this year’s Akito brings renewed hope and joy to all Syrians, marking the end of a long era of war and suffering. They aspire to a future where Syrians live together in love, fraternity, equality and peace.
