There are few things I love more than coffee. I drink it daily. Frequently (almost always) twice.

So when I learned that in Ethiopia, the brewing, drinking and sharing of coffee is a near-spiritual activity commemorated in a daily ceremony, I thought, “This is an idea I can get behind.”

Yesterday afternoon, underneath a pavilion in Del Mar Park, washed over with Ethiopian music, the smell of incense, and surrounded by hundreds of people, I photographed this revered coffee ceremony for The Denver Post.

It was bliss.

The Ethiopian community in Aurora came together yesterday to celebrate their new year: 2005 as measured by their calendar. The festivities included the coffee ceremony, lots and lots of community prepared food, singing, praying and games.

As a photographer, you really can’t hope for a more colorful, visual assignment. As a stranger to new customs, you couldn’t invent a more welcoming group. This community was so excited to invite me into their traditions and show me their culture.

Women from the St. Mary Ethiopian Orthodox Church went around singing a traditional new years song and collecting money for their church. The yellow flowers they are holding represent similar yellow flowers that typically flourish in Ethiopia at this time of year. Traditionally, children will go around their communities at new years exchanging these flowers for small gifts, much like children here celebrate Halloween.

A big thank you to everyone who welcomed me in to their celebration.

Check out the accompanying Denver Post story.