Yennayer is the first day of the year in the North African agricultural calendar, modelled on the "Julian" calendar. By declaring that 12 January is a paid day off work, the government actually does not follow the North African agricultural calendar. It officialises a recent tradition that celebrates Yennayer on a fixed date, on 12 January, as if the difference between this calendar and the official state's calendar could be stopped forever. In fact, the calendar whose year opens with Yennayer remains in use, though on a very small scale, in other countries. It has only a distant relationship with the initial symbolism of Thabbourth useggwas, the popular North African celebration.

Source: The North Africa Journal January 14, 2018 13:52 UTC