Feliz Navidad Ethiopians!

An Ethiopian Christmas postcard

 

Ethiopians observe their own ancient calendar, which has more in common with the Coptic Egyptian calendar. Both the Ethiopian and Coptic calendars have thirteen months: twelve of thirty days each and an intercalary month at the end of the year of five or six days depending on whether the year is a leap year or not. Like the Egyptian Coptic calendar, the Ethiopian calendar has a year of thirteen months, 365 days and 366 days in a normal and leap year respectively. The Ethiopian calendar is much influenced by the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, which follows its ancient calendar and beliefs.

The Ethiopian year starts on 11th September of the Gregorian calendar, which is followed by the rest of the world. In Gregorian leap years, the Ethiopian year starts on 12th September. The Coptic Leap Year follows the same rules as the Gregorian calendar so that the extra month always has six days in a Gregorian leap year.

The difference between the Ethiopian and the Coptic calendars is 276 years. But despite this difference, the Ethiopian calendar is closely associated with the rules and the different calculations influenced by both the Coptic Church and the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahido Church. Based upon the ancient Coptic calendar, the Ethiopian calendar is seven to eight years behind the Gregorian calendar, as a result of alternate calculations in determining the date of the annunciation of the birth of Jesus. Consequently, the Ethiopian Christmas falls on 7th January as on the Orthodox calendar while Epiphany falls on the 19th of January. Feliz Navidad Ethiopians! We are proud of you for you have never sold your sovereignty to the capitalist scavengers.