Do you know the European calendar is four months late?

Quite a number of people, both foreigners and Ethiopians, say the Ethiopian calendar lags seven years behind the European calendar. But, what if I tell you, that is a complete misunderstanding? Seriously!

The specialist on the traditional Ethiopian calendar, Henok Yared[1], writes, Ethiopia has three types of calendars, namely the Solar, the Lunar and the Luni-Solar. All the three types of calendars have their own specific usage among the traditional Ethiopian scholars and the Ethiopian church. The lunar is used during liturgical and non-liturgical prayers, while the solar, the most popular one, is the standard one used to mark the years and all the official business of the society. The Luni-Solar one is used to reckon the starting day of Lent (hudadie/ abiy tsom) and the day of Easter festival. According to the Luni-Solar calendar Ethiopia has already started the year 2014 on Meskerem 1 (September 11); hence, we are in the fourth month since the year 2014 started. So, it will be totally wrong, according to Henok, to say the Ethiopian calendar lags eight years behind. 

Wait, I have something more.

Do you know that we are already in the year 2066? 

Yes, we are in the year 2066 according to the Ethiopian Lunar calendar. Isn’t it awesome? 

Anyways, the Ethiopian calendar doesn’t prohibit wishing happy New Year, even for those who start the year after four months. Happy New Year!

May this new year be a year of freedom!

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[1] ሔኖክ ያሬድ፡፡ “በኢትዮያና በጎርጎርዮሳዊ/ ዩልዮሳዊ ቀለንቶን መካከል የስምንት ዓመት ልዩነት አለን?” Ethiopian Review of Cultures. vol. XIV, Addis Ababa, Capuchin Franciscan Institute of Philosophy and Theology, 2011: (ገጽ55- 75).

(Henok Yared. “Is there Eight Years Difference between the Ethiopian Calendar and the Gregorian/ Julian Calendar?” Ethiopian Review of Cultures. vol. XIV, Addis Ababa, Capuchin Franciscan Institute of Philosophy and Theology, 2011: (p55- 75).)