Ethiopian Calendar

The Ethiopian calendar (Amharic: የኢትዮጵያ ዘመን አቆጣጠር; Geʽez: ዐውደ ወርኅ; Tigrinya: ዓዉደ ኣዋርሕ), also known as the Geʽez calendar, is the official civil calendar of Ethiopia. It is also used culturally in Eritrea and among Ethiopian and Eritrean diaspora communities. In addition, it serves as the ecclesiastical calendar for the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, the Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church, the Ethiopian and Eritrean Catholic Churches, and Protestant P'ent'ay communities.

This calendar is a solar system closely related to the Coptic calendar of Egypt and shares structural similarities with the ancient Julian calendar. Like the Julian system, it adds a leap day every four years without exception. The Ethiopian year begins on September 11 in the Gregorian calendar, or September 12 in the year preceding a Gregorian leap year (for the period 1900–2099).

Structure of the Calendar

The Ethiopian calendar consists of 13 months:

• Twelve months of exactly 30 days each

• A 13th month, Pagumē, containing 5 days, or 6 days in a leap year

A sixth epagomenal (extra) day is added every four years on August 29 of the Julian calendar. Because of differences in calculating the date of the Annunciation of Jesus, the Ethiopian calendar is generally 7 to 8 years behind the Gregorian calendar.

Ethiopian New Year

The Ethiopian New Year, known as Enkutatash in Amharic and Kudus Yohannes in Geʽez and Tigrinya, falls on September 11 (or September 12 before a Gregorian leap year). The ecclesiastical New Year, called El-Nayrouz, corresponds to August 29 or 30 in the Julian calendar, which translates to September 11 or 12 in the Gregorian calendar.

Between 1900 and 2099, the date alignment remains consistent, although the difference between the Julian and Gregorian calendars gradually increases over time.

Historical Eras

Today, Ethiopian and Eritrean churches use the Incarnation Era, dating from the Annunciation of Jesus on March 25, AD 9 (Julian), as calculated by Annianus of Alexandria around AD 400. The first Ethiopian civil year began on August 29, AD 8 (Julian).

Because Europe later adopted calculations by Dionysius Exiguus in AD 525—placing the Annunciation nine years earlier—the Ethiopian calendar differs from the Gregorian calendar by:

• 8 years from January 1 to September 10/11

• 7 years from September 11/12 to December 31

In earlier centuries, the Era of Martyrs (Diocletian Era) was also widely used in Ethiopia and throughout Eastern Christianity. This system began in AD 284 and was closely connected to calculations of Easter cycles based on Metonic (19-year) and solar (28-year) cycles.

Cultural and Religious Significance

Rooted in ancient Christian and Coptic traditions, the Ethiopian calendar preserves a distinct historical identity. It remains central to religious observances, agricultural seasons, national celebrations, and daily life in Ethiopia, even as the Gregorian calendar is used for international affairs.

The Ethiopian calendar is a unique solar calendar consisting of 13 months—12 months of 30 days each and a 13th month of 5 days, or 6 days in a leap year. It runs approximately 7 to 8 years behind the Gregorian calendar and is closely connected to Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity. The Ethiopian New Year begins on September 11, or September 12 in a Gregorian leap year.

Key Features of the Ethiopian Calendar

13 Months:
The calendar includes twelve 30-day months, plus a short 13th month called Pagumē (from a Greek word meaning “additional”), which contains 5 days, or 6 days every four years.

Year Difference:
Because of a different calculation for the date of the Annunciation of Jesus Christ, the Ethiopian calendar is 7 years behind the Gregorian calendar from September through December, and 8 years behind from January through August.

New Year:
The first day of the year, 1 Mäskäräm, falls on September 11 (or September 12 during a Gregorian leap year).

Leap Year System:
Every four years, a sixth day is added to Pagumē without exception.

Usage:
Although the Gregorian calendar is used in Ethiopia for international matters such as banking and air travel, the Ethiopian calendar remains the primary system for everyday life, business, religious observances, and national holidays.

Months of the Ethiopian Calendar

• Mäskäräm (September/October)

• Teqemt (October/November)

• Hedar (November/December)

• Tahsas (December/January)

• Ter (January/February)

• Yakatit (February/March)

• Maggabit (March/April)

• Miyazya (April/May)

• Ginbot (May/June)

• Sene (June/July)

• Hamle (July/August)

• Nehasa (August/September)

• Pagumē (September)

Ethiopian Time System

In addition to its calendar, Ethiopia follows a distinctive 12-hour clock system that begins at 6:00 AM (sunrise) rather than at midnight. In this system, what is 7:00 AM in Western time is considered 1:00 in Ethiopian time, reflecting a day that starts with the rising of the sun rather than at 12:00 AM.