Akitu or Akitum (Sumerian: 𒀉𒆠𒋾, romanized: a-ki-ti[2]) (Akkadian: 𒀉𒆠𒌈, romanized: akītu(m)[2]) is a spring festival and New Year's celebration, held on the first day of the Assyrian and Babylonian Nisan in ancient Mesopotamia and in Assyrian communities around the world, to celebrate the sowing of barley.

The Babylonian festival traditionally started on 4 Nissan, the first month of the year, as a celebration of the sowing of barley.

[6] On the third day special craftsmen would create two puppets made of wood, gold, and precious stones and dress them in red.

The new moon of Aviv, the month of barley ripening, marks the beginning of the Jewish ecclesiastical year.

(Exodus 13:4; 23:15) Since the Babylonian captivity, this month has mainly been called Nisan (Nehemiah 2:1, Esther 3:7) Kha b-Nisan is the name of the spring festival among the Assyrians.

[13] The Assyrian and Babylonian Akitu festival has played a pivotal role in the development of theories of religion, myth and ritual.

While the purpose of the festival remains a point of contention among both historians of religion and Assyriologists, it is certain to have played a pivotal role in the regular setting of an agenda, priorities, and in the overall advancement of Western Civilization as being one of the first regularly occurring forums where proposals for social maintenance or change could consistently be made and crucial issues readily addressed.

[15] It is interchangeably referred to as Akitu and Assyrian New Year, and unlike the historical festival it is only celebrated for one day, the first of April.

[15][16] Assyrians continue to observe and celebrate Akitu with parades, picnics, and parties both in Iraq and in the diaspora.

[16][17][18] Those celebrating will wear traditional Assyrian clothing and poppies and use the greetings Reesh Shato Brikhto, Reesha D’Sheeta Brikhta or Akitu Breekha.

[18][15] Due to its modern alignment with April Fool's Day, the festival is often more lighthearted than its historical counterpart.

[15] One tradition, Deqna Nissan or "The Beard of April", involves Assyrian women gathering plants and flowers and fashioning them into a garland for a home's front door.