Overview
The Ethiopian calendar (የኢትዮጵያ ዘመን አቆጣጠር, Ye'Ityopiya Zemen Aqotater) is a solar calendar descended from the ancient Coptic calendar, which itself derives from the Egyptian calendar. It is the official calendar of Ethiopia and is also used by the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church.
Structure: 13 Months
The Ethiopian year consists of 13 months:
- 12 months of exactly 30 days: Meskerem, Tikimt, Hidar, Tahsas, Ter, Yekatit, Megabit, Miyazya, Ginbot, Sene, Hamle, Nehase
- Pagume: A 13th short month of 5 days (6 days in a leap year)
This totals 365 days in a common year and 366 in a leap year — the same as the Gregorian calendar — but distributed differently.
The Year Gap
The Ethiopian calendar is currently about 7 years and 8 months behind the Gregorian calendar. This is because Ethiopia calculated the birth year of Christ differently from the Western church. In 2025 CE, Ethiopia is in the year 2017 ET (Ethiopian Time). The gap arises from different interpretations of the Annunciation date.
Ethiopian New Year
Ethiopian New Year (Enkutatash, እንቁጣጣሽ) falls on Meskerem 1, which corresponds to September 11 in the Gregorian calendar (September 12 in a Gregorian leap year). This coincides with the end of the rainy season, and celebrations include fresh flowers, singing, and the exchange of cards.
Ethiopian Christmas and Easter
- Ethiopian Christmas (Genna/Ledet): January 7 (Gregorian) — corresponding to Tahsas 29
- Ethiopian Epiphany (Timkat): January 19 — major celebration involving processions and baptism
- Easter (Fasika): Calculated differently from Western Easter, usually 1–5 weeks later
Practical Implications
Ethiopia is the only country in the world that uses a 13-month calendar as its official civil calendar. Ethiopian airlines and hotels often list dates in both systems. The tourism industry has embraced the slogan "13 Months of Sunshine" to highlight the country's unique identity and its extended seasons of clear weather.
Connection to the Coptic Calendar
The Ethiopian and Coptic (Egyptian Christian) calendars share the same structure, including 13 months. The Coptic New Year (Nayrouz) also falls in September. This shared heritage reflects the early Christian connections between Egypt and Ethiopia.