What is the 13th Month Called in the Ethiopian Calendar?

Discover Pagumē, the unique 13th month in Ethiopia's calendar, its purpose, length, and how it differs from the Gregorian calendar.

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The 13th month in Ethiopia is called Pagumē. In the Ethiopian calendar, which consists of 12 months of 30 days each, Pagumē serves as a short month that compensates for the additional days needed to complete a solar year. Typically, Pagumē has 5 days, but during a leap year, it has 6 days. This unique aspect of the Ethiopian calendar highlights its distinct approach to timekeeping compared to the Gregorian calendar.

FAQs & Answers

  1. Why does the Ethiopian calendar have 13 months? The Ethiopian calendar consists of 12 months with 30 days each, plus a 13th month called Pagumē, which accounts for the remaining days needed to complete a full solar year.
  2. How many days does Pagumē have in a leap year? During a leap year, Pagumē has 6 days instead of the usual 5 to align the Ethiopian calendar with the solar year.
  3. How is the Ethiopian calendar different from the Gregorian calendar? The Ethiopian calendar has 13 months and starts the year on a different date, while the Gregorian calendar has 12 months and is internationally more widely used.