Yennayer is the first month of the Berber (Amazigh) calendar. The first day of Yennayer corresponds to the first day of January in the Julian Calendar, which is shifted thirteen days compared to the Gregorian calendar, thus falling on 12 January every year. The Berber calendar was created in 1980 by Ammar Negadi, a Paris-based Algerian scholar. He chose 943 BC (rounded off to 950), the year in which the Meshwesh Shoshenq I ascended to the throne of Egypt, as the first year of the Berber calendar.

There is some debate about the traditional date of Yennayer, with some cultural associations advocating for its celebration on the evening of 12 January, which is widespread in Algeria, Morocco, Libya, and the Canary Islands.

On 27 December 2017, Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika officially recognized Yennayer as a public holiday to be celebrated on 12 January every year. The first official celebration of Yennayer as a public holiday in Algeria took place on 12 January 2018. On 3 May 2023, King Mohammed VI of Morocco declared the Berber New Year as a national public holiday in Morocco.

The Berber Academy was established with the intention of recognizing Yennayer as the "Amazigh New Year," based on the longstanding tradition of North Africans celebrating the event each year. In 1980, Ammar Negadi proposed the creation of a Berber calendar.

Yennayer is said to be composed of two Berber words: yan, meaning "the number one," and ayyur, meaning "month" with yennayer signifying "the first month".

Yennayer has several popular names that can differ by region such as id seggas (Moroccan Arabic: إيض سڭاس) or haguza (Moroccan Arabic: حاڭوزة) in Morocco.

One of the most significant aspects of Yennayer is the preparation of a special, symbolic meal, which is hearty and distinct from everyday dishes. In Algeria, Yennayer is celebrated across various Amazigh regions, including the Kabyle, Chaoui, Mozabite, and Tuareg communities, each adding unique touches to the tradition.

Celebrations in Algeria