Introduction

For those unfamiliar with the Ethiopian calendar, it can be quite confusing to understand what year it is. Unlike the Gregorian calendar, which is used by most countries around the world, the Ethiopian calendar has its own unique system of counting the years. In this article, we will explore what year it is on the Ethiopian calendar in 2024.

What Is the Ethiopian Calendar?

The Ethiopian calendar is also known as the Ge’ez calendar and is based on the Coptic calendar, which was introduced by Egyptian astronomers in the 4th century. The Ethiopian calendar has 12 months of 30 days each and a 13th month of five or six days, depending on whether it is a leap year or not. Unlike the Gregorian calendar, which has a fixed New Year’s Day on January 1st, the Ethiopian New Year falls on September 11th or 12th, depending on whether it is a leap year or not.

What Year Is It on the Ethiopian Calendar in 2024?

As of 2024, it is currently the year 2016 on the Ethiopian calendar. This is because the Ethiopian calendar is about 7-8 years behind the Gregorian calendar. This is because the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, which follows the Ethiopian calendar, believes that Jesus Christ was born 7-8 years earlier than the Western Christian tradition. As a result, the Ethiopian calendar is 7-8 years behind the Gregorian calendar.

Why Does the Ethiopian Calendar Have 13 Months?

The Ethiopian calendar has 13 months to align with the lunar cycle, which is about 29.5 days long. The 13th month, called Pagume, is added to the end of the year to make up for the extra days in the lunar cycle. The Ethiopian calendar is based on the ancient Egyptian calendar, which also had 13 months.

Question and Answer

Q: Why is the Ethiopian calendar behind the Gregorian calendar?

A: The Ethiopian calendar is about 7-8 years behind the Gregorian calendar because the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, which follows the Ethiopian calendar, believes that Jesus Christ was born 7-8 years earlier than the Western Christian tradition.

Q: How many months are in the Ethiopian calendar?

A: The Ethiopian calendar has 12 months of 30 days each and a 13th month of five or six days, depending on whether it is a leap year or not.

Q: Why does the Ethiopian calendar have 13 months?

A: The Ethiopian calendar has 13 months to align with the lunar cycle, which is about 29.5 days long. The 13th month, called Pagume, is added to the end of the year to make up for the extra days in the lunar cycle.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Ethiopian calendar is a fascinating system for counting the years that is unique to Ethiopia. It has 13 months and is based on the ancient Egyptian calendar. As of 2024, it is currently the year 2016 on the Ethiopian calendar, which is about 7-8 years behind the Gregorian calendar.