Online Reporter
Sikhumbuzo Moyo, [email protected]
WHILE much of the world is living in 2026, Ethiopia is currently in the year 2018.
This is because the East African nation follows the Ethiopian calendar, which differs from the Gregorian calendar used by most countries around the world.
The Ethiopian calendar is approximately seven to eight years behind the Gregorian calendar and comprises 13 months — 12 months of 30 days each and a 13th month, known as Pagume, which has five days in a normal year and six days in a leap year.
The Ethiopian New Year, known as Enkutatash, falls on September 11, or September 12 in the year immediately preceding a Gregorian leap year. As a result, Ethiopia is currently in the year 2018 and will celebrate the arrival of 2019 in September 2026.
Despite using a different calendar domestically, Ethiopia conducts international business, trade, aviation and diplomatic affairs using the Gregorian calendar whenever necessary, ensuring compatibility with the rest of the world.
The calendar remains one of Ethiopia’s most distinctive cultural traditions and reflects the country’s rich history and heritage. It is based on a different calculation of the date of the birth of Jesus Christ from that used in the Gregorian calendar.
While the Western Church later revised its calculations, the Ethiopian Orthodox Church retained the earlier system, resulting in the current seven- to eight-year difference between the Ethiopian and Gregorian calendars.
Unlike most countries, which eventually adopted the Gregorian calendar, Ethiopia has preserved its traditional system, making it one of the few nations in the world to continue using its own calendar alongside the internationally recognised Gregorian calendar.
Beyond its unique calendar, Ethiopia also uses a distinctive 12-hour clock system, with the day beginning at sunrise rather than at midnight. Under this system, what is 7am on the Gregorian clock is considered 1 o’clock in the morning in Ethiopia, while 7pm is regarded as 1 o’clock at night. Despite these differences, Ethiopians seamlessly switch between their traditional systems and international standards when interacting with the rest of the world.
The Ethiopian calendar and timekeeping system continue to stand as enduring symbols of the country’s cultural identity, historical continuity and independence, setting it apart from almost every other nation in the world.
