Akitu was the ancient Mesopotamian festival that celebrated the Babylonian New Year.
Akitu was a major religious festival held in Babylon and other Mesopotamian cities. In Babylon, it was associated with the spring month Nisannu and honored the god Marduk. The ceremony included processions, rituals, and the public presentation of divine statues.
One important text connected with the festival was the Enūma Eliš, the Babylonian creation epic. Its recitation reinforced Marduk’s supremacy and the restoration of cosmic order. The king also played a ceremonial role, including a ritual encounter with the high priest that symbolized submission before the god.
Akitu was not simply a modern-style party lasting one night. Its ceremonies extended over multiple days and linked the renewal of the year with kingship, creation, agriculture, and divine order. It is often described as an early New Year festival, but dates and local practices varied across Mesopotamia. Saturnalia, by contrast, was a Roman festival held in honor of Saturn.