The Ethiopian calendar (also known as the Ge’ez calendar) is the official state civil calendar of Ethiopia, famously featuring 13 months and trailing the Western Gregorian calendar by 7 to 8 years. 📅 The 13-Month Structure
The calendar operates on a solar cycle derived from the ancient Coptic calendar system. Its year consists of 365 days (366 in a leap year), distributed as follows: 12 core months: Every single one lasts exactly 30 days.
1 short 13th month: Called Pagumē, it lasts 5 days in a common year and 6 days in a leap year.
Leap years: Occur every four years without exception, immediately preceding a Gregorian leap year. ⏳ Why it is 7 to 8 Years Behind
The discrepancy between the Ethiopian and Gregorian calendars stems from different theological calculations regarding the Annunciation (the birth year of Jesus Christ).
When the Roman Catholic Church amended its timeline around 500 CE, the Ethiopian Orthodox Church kept the ancient calculations.
As a result, Ethiopia is 7 years behind from September 11 to December 31, and 8 years behind from January 1 to September 10. 🍂 The New Year (Enkutatash)
The Ethiopian New Year is called Enkutatash. It marks the end of the heavy rainy season and falls on September 11 of the Gregorian calendar (or September 12 in the year before a Gregorian leap year). ⏱️ The Ethiopian Time-Counting System
Alongside its calendar, Ethiopia uses a distinct 12-hour clock system cycle based on daylight and darkness. Because the country sits near the equator, sunset and sunrise times remain consistent year-round: Hour Zero: The clock starts at dawn (6:00 AM Western Time).
Daytime Hours: 7:00 AM Western Time is “1 in the morning” in Ethiopia. Midday (12:00 PM Western Time) is “6:00” in Ethiopian time.
Nighttime Hours: Dusk (6:00 PM Western Time) resets the clock to “12:00 in the evening” before starting the 12 nighttime hours.
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