Ancient Origins of the Ethiopian Calendar
Why Ethiopia Has Its Own Calendar: The Ancient Origins of the Ethiopian Calendar Girma A Demeke (PhD), Research & Publication Director Institute of Semitic Studies Ethiopia will soon celebrate its New Year, marking a calendar transition distinct from the internationally adopted Gregorian system. This divergence includes both the method of calculating years and the fundamental structure of the day Specifically, from September 11/12 to 31 December, the Ethiopian calendar trails the Gregorian calendar by seven years, and by eight years from 1 January to September 10/11. Additionally, while the Gregorian day commences at midnight, the Ethiopian day begins at dawn. Explanations regarding the origins of these differences are often incomplete or convoluted by religious dogma, leaving the underlying mechanics poorly understood. A decade ago, we addressed this topic extensively in a book published in Amharic: Girma A. Demeke. 2016. The Ethiopian Calendar (Text in Am...
