About the Ethiopian Calendar
A unique timekeeping system with 13 months and a rich historical legacy
What is the Ethiopian Calendar?
The Ethiopian calendar (Amharic: የኢትዮጵያ ዘመን አቆጣጠር) is a solar calendar that originated in ancient Ethiopia and remains the official calendar of Ethiopia today. It's one of the few calendars in the world that is still actively used and has maintained its original structure over centuries.
Unique Structure
What makes the Ethiopian calendar unique is its structure of 13 months and its chronology that places it approximately 7-8 years behind the Gregorian calendar used in most of the world. This difference has given rise to Ethiopia's tourism slogan: "13 Months of Sunshine."
Cultural Significance
The Ethiopian calendar is not merely a way to track time — it's deeply embedded in the cultural, religious, and national identity of Ethiopia, reflecting the country's unique history as the only African nation that successfully resisted European colonization.
Key Features
13-Month Structure
The calendar consists of 12 months of 30 days each, plus a 13th month called Pagume that has 5 days (or 6 days in leap years). This gives a total of 365 or 366 days per year.
Unique Time Calculation
The day starts at dawn (6 AM) rather than midnight. This means that 7 AM in the Western system would be 1 o'clock in Ethiopian time. The day is divided into 12 daylight hours and 12 night hours.
Ancient Origins
Based on the ancient Alexandrian calendar, the Ethiopian calendar was officially adopted with the arrival of Christianity in Ethiopia in the 4th century. It's closely related to the Coptic calendar but differs in year numbering.
Different Year Count
The Ethiopian calendar is approximately 7 years and 8 months behind the Gregorian calendar. This difference comes from different calculations of the date of the Annunciation of Jesus.
Historical Background
The Ethiopian calendar traces its roots to the ancient Ethiopian solar calendar, but with significant modifications made during the early Christian era. When Christianity became the state religion of the Aksumite Empire (modern-day Ethiopia and Eritrea) in the 4th century, the calendar was formalized with influences from the Julian calendar.
Origins and Development
While the basic structure is derived from the Alexandrian calendar, the Ethiopian calendar marks the years differently. It counts years from the supposed date of the Annunciation (the announcement to Mary that she would give birth to Jesus) rather than from Jesus's birth. Ethiopian scholars calculated this date as 7-8 years earlier than the calculation used by the Western calendar, resulting in the current difference in year numbering.
Continuous Usage
Ethiopia's unique history as the only African nation to successfully resist European colonization meant that its traditional calendar was never displaced by European systems. While much of the world standardized around the Gregorian calendar, Ethiopia maintained its traditional timekeeping system through the centuries.
Modern Context
In modern Ethiopia, both the Ethiopian and Gregorian calendars are used. Government, business, and international communications generally use the Gregorian calendar, while religious and traditional affairs continue to use the Ethiopian calendar. This dual system reflects Ethiopia's balance of tradition and modernity.
Historical Milestone
The Ethiopian millennium (year 2000 in the Ethiopian calendar) was celebrated on September 12, 2007 in the Gregorian calendar, marking a significant cultural moment that drew international attention to Ethiopia's unique calendar system.
Calendar Structure
The 13 Months
Meskerem (መስከረም)
September 11 - October 10
First month, marks Ethiopian New Year (Enkutatash)
Tikimt (ጥቅምት)
October 11 - November 9
Second month, Meskel celebration period
Hidar (ኅዳር)
November 10 - December 9
Third month, includes feast of St. Mary of Zion
Tahsas (ታኅሣሥ)
December 10 - January 8
Fourth month, includes Ethiopian Christmas (Genna)
Tir (ጥር)
January 9 - February 7
Fifth month, features Timket (Epiphany) celebration
Yekatit (የካቲት)
February 8 - March 9
Sixth month, includes Adwa Victory Day
Megabit (መጋቢት)
March 10 - April 8
Seventh month, marks beginning of spring
Meyazya (ሚያዝያ)
April 9 - May 8
Eighth month, often includes Easter celebration
Ginbot (ግንቦት)
May 9 - June 7
Ninth month, beginning of small rainy season
Sene (ሰኔ)
June 8 - July 7
Tenth month, rainy season intensifies
Hamle (ሐምሌ)
July 8 - August 6
Eleventh month, peak of heavy rainy season
Nehase (ነሐሴ)
August 7 - September 5
Twelfth month, end of rainy season begins
Pagume (ጳጉሜ)
September 6 - 10/11
Thirteenth month, 5 days (6 in leap years)
Leap Years and Calculation
The Ethiopian calendar follows a leap year cycle similar to the Julian calendar. Every four years, an extra day is added to the 13th month, Pagume, making it six days instead of five.
Leap Year Rule
An Ethiopian year is a leap year if dividing the Ethiopian year number by four gives a remainder of three. This corresponds to the Gregorian leap year rule, where a year is a leap year if divisible by four.
Date Conversion
To approximate conversions between Ethiopian and Gregorian dates:
- For Gregorian dates between January 1 and September 10, subtract 7 from the Gregorian year.
- For Gregorian dates between September 11 and December 31, subtract 8 from the Gregorian year.
- For precise conversion, a more complex calculation is required due to misaligned months.
Cultural Significance
The Ethiopian calendar is more than a way to track time; it is a symbol of heritage, faith, and national identity. Its continued use reflects Ethiopia’s deep-rooted history and cultural uniqueness.
Religious Importance
For the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, the calendar is integral to religious observances. With over 36 million followers, it determines fasting periods, feast days, and liturgical cycles. Celebrations such as Genna (Christmas), Timket (Epiphany), and Fasika (Easter)occur on dates that differ from Western Christianity, creating a distinct spiritual rhythm.
National Identity
Ethiopia, one of the few African nations never fully colonized, takes pride in preserving its own calendar. The idea that the country is “seven to eight years behind” the rest of the world is not seen as an anomaly but as a badge of cultural resilience. The calendar serves as a testament to Ethiopia’s ability to maintain its traditions while adapting to modern influences.
Practical Usage Today
In everyday life, Ethiopians navigate seamlessly between two calendars. The Ethiopian calendar is used for personal events, religious holidays, and cultural activities, while the Gregorian calendar is adopted for business, governmental affairs, and international relations. This dual system highlights the adaptability and global awareness of Ethiopian society.
Tourism and Global Interest
Ethiopia’s timekeeping system has fascinated visitors from around the world. The phrase “13 Months of Sunshine”not only reflects the calendar’s unique structure but also serves as a slogan for the country's pleasant climate. Tourists arriving for Ethiopian New Year or Christmas witness celebrations unlike anywhere else, making Ethiopia’s calendar a bridge between history and global curiosity.
Explore the Ethiopian Calendar
Discover months, holidays, and the unique structure of this ancient timekeeping system