Did We Ever Have 13 Months in a Calendar? Exploring the Bahá’í and Ethiopian Systems

Discover how the Bahá’í and Ethiopian calendars include 13 months and how they differ from the Gregorian calendar.

Published

Video transcript

Yes, we once had 13 months. The Bahá'í calendar and the Ethiopian calendar both feature 13 months. In the Ethiopian calendar, there are twelve 30-day months plus a 13th month, Pagumē, with 5 or 6 days. This unique structure differs from the widely used Gregorian calendar.

Questions and answers

  1. Which calendars have 13 months?

    The Bahá’í calendar and the Ethiopian calendar are examples of calendar systems that have 13 months.

  2. How does the Ethiopian calendar's 13th month work?

    The Ethiopian calendar has twelve months of 30 days each plus a 13th month called Pagumē, which has 5 or 6 days depending on the leap year.

  3. Why don't we use a 13-month calendar globally?

    The Gregorian calendar is widely used globally due to historical adoption and standardization, despite some cultures using calendars with 13 months for religious or cultural reasons.