07/05/2007
NEW MILLENIUM
I have been asked a couple of times about my post dated 5-08-07 when I mentioned that the courts close for the rainy season and that this year, Ethiopia will celebrate the new millenium. YES, it is true! It is already 2007 here but in Ethiopia, it's still 1999! Ethiopia does not observe the Gregorian Calendar as we do. So, the new millenium starts this September 11th, there will be a huge celebration "Enkutatash".
The Ethiopian calendar works like this.....
The People's Democratic Republic of Ethiopia is on the east coast of Africa. The Ethiopian Calendar consists of 12 months with 30 days each, plus a 13th month called "Pagume" of 5 days to bring the calendar up to 365 days. When the following Gregorian year is a leap year, then a 6th day is added to Pagume. The New Year (Meskerem 1) falls on September 11 (or September 12 following Ethiopian Leap Years). Since the Ethiopian Leap Day preceeds the Gregorian Leap Day by half a year, the holidays may occur one day later than given. | Ethiopian Month | Begins in... |
|---|
| Meskerem | September |
| Tikimit | October |
| Hidar | November |
| Tahesas | December |
| Tir | January |
| Yekatit | February |
| Megabit | March |
| Miyazia | April |
| Ginbot | May |
| Sene | June |
| Hamle | July |
| Nehase | August |
| Pagume | September |
