Why is this African Country Still Living in 2016? Know the Reason Why

While the rest of the world has progressed to 2024, Ethiopia remains in 2016 courtesy of its distinct calendar system. The country will be welcoming the year 2017 on September 11, 2024 (according to Gregorian Calendar).

Ethiopia follows the Ge'ez calendar, which is based on the ancient Coptic calendar. The calendar consists of 13 months: 12 months with 30 days each and Pagumđ, an intercalary month with five or six days depending on whether it is a leap year. Because of this arrangement, the Ethiopian year is seven or eight years behind the widely used Gregorian calendar.

Reason for this Time-difference

The Ethiopian calendar lags behind the Gregorian calendar by 7–8 years primarily because of the difference in the date of Jesus' birth.

The Ethiopian calendar, based on calculations from the Coptic Church, starts in 7 BC, unlike the Gregorian calendar introduced by Pope Gregory XIII in 1582, which is based on calculations by Dionysius Exiguus. This difference results in the Ethiopian calendar being several years behind the Gregorian calendar.

Although the majority of Christians celebrate Christmas on December 25, Ethiopians, like many other Orthodox Christian churches worldwide, celebrate Christmas on January 7.

The Julian calendar is still in use by the majority of the Orthodox churches, while some Orthodox churches make use of the Revised Julian Calendar for determining the dates and year. 

What is Ethiopian Calendar?

The Ethiopian calendar is a solar calendar, based on the Earth's orbit around the Sun, also known as a tropical or solar year. 

It shares the same astronomical calculations as the Gregorian calendar and its predecessor, the Julian calendar. 

A year in the Ethiopian calendar consists of 13 months, with 12 months each having 30 days. The final month has 5 days in a common year and 6 days in a leap year.

The Ethiopian calendar starts on Meskerem 1, which corresponds to September 11 (or September 12 in a Gregorian leap year). This date is associated with the Feast of Neyrouz, an ancient Egyptian festival celebrating the New Year and the Nile flooding.

Cultural Importance of Ethiopian Calendar

Ethiopians take great pride in their national calendar, which symbolizes their identity and heritage. It represents their historical continuity and resilience in preserving their culture against the influences of globalization and colonialism.

Ethiopia's New Year, Enkutatash, celebrated on Meskerem 1 (September 11), is a vibrant festival. The name Enkutatash means "gift of jewels" and commemorates the Queen of Sheba's return from her visit to King Solomon in Jerusalem. This festive occasion is marked by renewal, joy, and thanksgiving, featuring feasts, singing, and traditional dances.

How Ethiopians Balance Dual Calendars

The Ethiopian and Gregorian calendars coexist in social and business contexts, especially in international and urban settings. Because international organizations commonly use the Gregorian calendar, many Ethiopians have to keep track of both the Western and traditional Ethiopian calendars. 

Ethiopian archaeologist Goitom W. Tekle explains that some institutions must constantly switch between the two calendars when communicating with Ethiopians, particularly those in rural areas, to account for the different dates and times.

Although this dual system may cause confusion, Ethiopians are able to handle it with ease.

Public 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 effortlessly manage this dual system.

Another intriguing feature of Ethiopia is that, unlike most other countries where the day starts at 12 am, Ethiopians use a 12-hour clock system that runs from dawn to dusk, starting at 1 am.