Why Is Ethiopia's Year 2015 According to the Ge'ez Calendar?

Explore why Ethiopia follows the Ge'ez calendar, making its year 2015, and how this unique system differs from the Gregorian calendar.

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Ethiopia operates on the Ge'ez calendar, which is approximately 7-8 years behind the Gregorian calendar used by much of the rest of the world. The discrepancy arises because the Ge'ez calendar counts the birth of Jesus Christ differently. Furthermore, the Ethiopian New Year starts on September 11th (or September 12th in a leap year), making it currently 2015 in Ethiopia according to their calendar. This unique system showcases the rich cultural heritage and traditions of the country.

FAQs & Answers

  1. Why is Ethiopia's calendar behind the Gregorian calendar? Ethiopia uses the Ge'ez calendar, which calculates the birth of Jesus Christ differently, resulting in a 7-8 year lag compared to the Gregorian calendar.
  2. When does the Ethiopian New Year occur? The Ethiopian New Year typically starts on September 11th, or September 12th in a leap year, marking the beginning of a new year in their calendar.
  3. What is the Ge'ez calendar used in Ethiopia? The Ge'ez calendar is a traditional calendar system in Ethiopia that is approximately 7-8 years behind the Gregorian calendar and reflects the country's rich cultural heritage.

Watch More

To deepen your understanding of unique calendars worldwide, check out related content on the Ethiopian Orthodox Church's traditions and the differences between various historical calendars used globally.

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