Assyrian Cultural & Social Youth Association Inc. - ACSYA

26/10/2025

ACSYA joins the Assyrian Australian Association in celebrating the Gilgamesh Festival 2025, presenting a lecture and exhibition by Bani Varda on Assyrian Silverwork — an endangered artistry that preserves centuries of craftsmanship and cultural identity. Mr Varda will showcase authentic silver pieces, exploring their motifs, techniques, and symbolic features.

Time: 7:00 PM
Date: Thursday 6th of Nov, 2025
Venue: Edessa: 7–9 Greenfield Rd, Greenfield Park NSW

The Gilgamesh Festival 2025 is just around the corner! Nine days of culture, history & heritage - Starting from the 1st to the 9th of November.

🎓 Lectures from world-renowned Assyriologists Dr Simo Parpola & Dr Stephanie Dalley�🗿 The unveiling of the restored Statue of Gilgamesh at the University of Sydney�🚢 A farewell lunch cruise to close the festival in style

Don’t miss this celebration of ancient wisdom, modern dialogue, and Assyrian heritage. Head to Assyrian Australian Association to learn more about these events.

07/08/2025

Today, we pause to remember “Martyrs Day,” observed each 7 August to commemorate Assyrian victims of genocide, persecution and oppression throughout history.

On this annual day of reflection and commemoration, the ACSYA Inc. stands in solidarity with the Assyrian people worldwide, to reaffirm our unwavering commitment to promote education, advocate for recognition, and drive accountability for those directly involved in committing such atrocities - and their collaborators.

Read the full article to learn more.
— Link: https://www.acsya.org/post/assyrian-genocide

27/05/2025

Assyrian author Bedri Deril was born in the Bohtan region of southeastern Turkey. From an early age, he was deeply influenced by the oral storytelling traditions of his grandmother, who would recount ancient Assyrian folk tales to him and his siblings. These stories, rich with cultural wisdom and…

27/05/2025

Step into a world of ancient stories and rich culture at the launch of Assyrian Folk Tales by Bedri Diril! This captivating book preserves Assyrian heritage through timeless tales and vibrant illustrations—ensuring our language and traditions continue to inspire future generations.

📚 Assyrian Folk Tales Book Launch
📅 Sunday, 1 June 2025
🕒 2pm
📍 Fairfield HQ, 17 Kenyon St, Fairfield NSW
🎙️ Special Guest: Bedri Bet-Hurmuz

Join us for an afternoon of storytelling, lively conversation, and the chance to get your signed copy of Assyrian Folk Tales. Let’s come together to celebrate Assyrian literature and heritage!

01/04/2025

The Assyrian New Year is commonly referred to as Khä B'Nësán ('Start of Spring') which falls on the first day of April (anc. Nissanu) marking the festival known as Akitu which continues today as one of the most important Assyrian national holidays. Historically, the ancient Sumerians celebrated Akitu which was the festival of the sowing of barley. The Assyrians and Babylonians celebrated Akitu on the first day of the year which also coincided with the start of spring where ancient themes of ‘revival’ and ‘new beginning of life’ which position themselves with the epithet used to describe the festival; rêš šattim, "beginning of the year". Today, the Akitu festival is still celebrated around the world and in historical Assyrian locations in Iraq which include Nineveh (mod. Mosul), and Aššur (mod. Qal'at Sherqat).

The Akitu festival was celebrated for twelve days as agricultural life played a key role in the economy of the Fertile Crescent. This lifestyle was also portrayed in the lavish celebrations of the Assyrians during 12 sacred days of the New Year celebration, one for each month of the calendar year. Tens of thousands of people from all over the Assyrian Empire would travel to its capital city, Nineveh, to partake in the magnificent event led by the Assyrian kingship. Through the annals of Sargon II and Esarhaddon we learn that one of the festival activities celebrated was a procession led by the king to a building known as the “akītu-house” where it is referred to as “the house of joyful singing”. In the northern Iraqi city of Dohuk (Nohadra) the Assyrians continue to hold a festival where they partake in a procession through the streets of the city where they arrive at their destination and partake in a parade filled with songs and dances.

Another custom was the practice of marriage where many marriages took place simultaneously which was followed by the brides paying a visit to every household in their city where they would receive blessings and gifts which would then be shared amongst brides from that city. An ancient tradition that has survived is the tradition of Didna d’ Nissan (Nissan’s Beard) where Assyrian women and girls would disperse in the fields to gather flowers and herbs and suspend the collected bouquets under the roof of the house.

09/01/2025

08/01/2025

The Assyrian Student Association-Australia and Assyrian Cultural Youth Association hosted over a dozen Assyrian youth from Germany’s AJM for a cultural exchange. Delegates expressed gratitude for connecting with Australian Assyrian youth, exploring Sydney, and engaging with the community. SBS…

07/01/2025

15/08/2024

Join us for a special screening of the documentary - a powerful documentary that captures the soul of the Assyrian-Australian community through art and storytelling. The screening will be followed by a live Q&A with the brilliant minds behind the film (Samuel Tamo and Indigenous Roots Productions.)

When: Sunday, August 18, 2024�
Time: 1:30 PM
�Where: Fairfield City HQ

🎟️ 🎟️ Register now for your FREE ticket! Seats are limited, so grab yours before they’re gone.

Check the link here to secure your spot.
https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/documentary-screening-sights-sounds-of-the-assyrian-diaspora-tickets-988956995997 (https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/documentary-screening-sights-sounds-of-the-assyrian-diaspora-tickets-988956995997

We can’t wait to share this incredible experience with you—see you there!

14/08/2024

🎨 Discover the brilliance of Assyrian artist Rabel BetShmuel, whose incredible work is spotlighted in the documentary Sights and Sounds of the Assyrian Diaspora: Art in Response to Statelessness.

Take a glimpse into Rabel’s world with this exclusive clip from the film, where art meets identity in a powerful expression of the Assyrian experience.

Join us for a special screening of the documentary - a powerful documentary that captures the soul of the Assyrian-American community through art and storytelling. The screening will be followed by a live Q&A with the brilliant minds behind the film (Samuel Tamo and Indigenous Roots Productions.)


When: Sunday, August 18, 2024�
Time: 1:30 PM�
Where: Fairfield City HQ

🎟️ 🎟️ Register now for your FREE ticket! Seats are limited, so grab yours before they’re gone. Check the link here to secure your spot. https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/documentary-screening-sights-sounds-of-the-assyrian-diaspora-tickets-988956995997

We can’t wait to share this incredible experience with you—see you there!