Why does Ethiopia have a year in 13 months?

Ethiopia is about 7 years behind the world.

The world has welcomed the English New Year 2026. However, there is no excitement for this New Year in one African country. Not because of any tragedy, but because the Ethiopian calendar is about 7 to 8 years behind the Western calendar.

The reason for the difference between the Ethiopian calendar and the Western calendar is the difference in the method of calculating the birth of Jesus Christ. Although the Catholic Church corrected their calculations in 500 AD, the Ethiopian Orthodox Church did not do so. As a result, New Year in Ethiopia is celebrated on September 11 of the Western calendar, and on September 12 in leap years. In Ethiopia, each of the 12 months has 30 days. And the last or 13th month of the year has five or six days, depending on the leap year.

Time is also calculated differently in the country compared to other countries in the world. The day is divided into two 12-hour periods, starting at 6 a.m. So the clock is at six o'clock at noon and midnight. So don't be surprised if someone invites you to a coffee at 10 a.m. in Addis Ababa and shows up at 4 p.m.

According to experts, the Ethiopian calendar is not just a way of counting time, but also a symbol of the country's religious beliefs, cultural identity and historical pride. In other ways, the African country has kept its 'time' traditions while keeping up with the modern world.

News from the BBC