Ethiopian New Year: A Unique Cultural Celebration

Ethiopia’s New Year, also known as “Enkutatesh,” falls on September 11 or 12, marking a significant cultural event that embodies the country’s rich historical heritage.

The Ethiopian calendar is an ancient solar calendar, consisting of 12 months with exactly 30 days each. A thirteenth month, known as “Pagume,” contains five days in regular years and six days in leap years.

This unique calendar structure results in a year that is typically 365 days long, similar to the Gregorian calendar, with an extra day added every four years to account for the Earth’s orbit around the Sun.

Ethiopia’s time system is also distinct, with the day starting at 6:00 AM instead of midnight. The day is divided into two 12-hour parts, with the first part starting at 6:00 AM and the second part starting at 6:00 PM.

Understanding the Ethiopian Calendar

The Ethiopian calendar is approximately 7 to 8 years behind the Gregorian calendar. This discrepancy is due to the differences in the calculation of the date of the Annunciation of Jesus.

Despite the differences, the Ethiopian calendar remains an essential part of the country’s cultural identity and is still widely used today.