The Ethiopian calendar is 7 to 8 years behind the Gregorian calendar. The country will welcome the year 2017 on September 11, 2024 (according to the Gregorian calendar). Know the reason behind this unnatural phenomenon.
While the rest of the world has moved forward to 2024, Ethiopia remains stuck in 2016 thanks to its different calendar system. The country will welcome the year 2017 on September 11, 2024 (according to the Gregorian calendar).
Ethiopia follows the Ge’ez calendar, which is based on the ancient Coptic calendar. The calendar has 13 months: 12 months of 30 days and Pagume, an intercalary month of five or six days, depending on whether it is a leap year or not. Due to this arrangement, the Ethiopian year is seven or eight years behind the widely used Gregorian calendar.
The Ethiopian calendar is 7 to 8 years behind the Gregorian calendar, mainly due to differences in the date of Jesus’ birth.
The Ethiopian calendar, based on the calculations of the Coptic Church, begins in 7 BC, unlike the Gregorian calendar introduced by Pope Gregory XIII in 1582, which is based on calculations by Dionysius the Exiguus. As a result of this difference, the Ethiopian calendar is several years behind the Gregorian calendar.
Although most Christians celebrate Christmas on December 25, Ethiopians, like many other Orthodox Christian churches around the world, celebrate Christmas on January 7.
Most Orthodox churches still use the Julian calendar, while some Orthodox churches use the Revised Julian calendar to determine dates and years.
The Ethiopian calendar is solar, based on the Earth’s orbit around the sun, also known as the tropical or solar year.
It shares the same astronomical calculations as the Gregorian calendar and its predecessor, the Julian calendar.
The Ethiopian calendar has 13 months in a year, each of which has 30 days. The last month in a normal year has 5 days, and 6 days in a leap year.
The Ethiopian calendar begins on Meskerem 1, which corresponds to September 11 (or September 12 in a Gregorian leap year). This date is associated with the ancient Egyptian festival of Nerwuz, celebrating the new year and the flooding of the Nile.
Ethiopians take pride in their national calendar, which symbolizes their identity and heritage. It represents their historical continuity and their resilience to preserve their culture against the effects of globalization and colonialism.
The Ethiopian New Year, Enkutatash, celebrated on Meskerem 1 (September 11), is a vibrant festival. The name Enkutatash means “gift of jewels” and commemorates the return of the Queen of Sheba from a visit to King Solomon in Jerusalem. This festive occasion is marked by renewal, joy, and thanksgiving, with traditional feasting, singing, and dancing.
The Ethiopian and Gregorian calendars coexist in social and business contexts, especially in international and urban environments. Because international organizations commonly use the Gregorian calendar, many Ethiopians have to follow both the Western and traditional Ethiopian calendars.
Ethiopian archaeologist Goitom W. Tekle explains that some institutions must constantly switch between the two calendars, keeping up with the different dates and times when communicating with Ethiopians, especially those living in rural areas.
Although this dual system can cause confusion, Ethiopians can handle it easily.
Holidays, official documents, and school years follow the Ethiopian calendar, making Ethiopians’ interactions with the outside world uniquely different from other cultures.
Despite the potential for confusion, Ethiopians manage this dual system effortlessly.
Another interesting feature of Ethiopia is that, unlike most other countries where the day begins at noon, Ethiopians use a 12-hour clock system that starts at 1 AM and runs from dawn to dusk.
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