Why is Ethiopia Still Living in 2016: 8 Years Behind the Earth Time

In a recent TikTok video, a content creator sparked widespread curiosity by informing her followers that Ethiopia is seven years behind the rest of the world. 

This discussion about the distinctive Ethiopian Calendar is a recurring trend on social media, drawing a flurry of questions and reactions each time it surfaces. 

The intrigue surrounding Ethiopia’s unique timekeeping style has prompted DUBAWA to delve deeper into the topic.

Ethiopia, located in East Africa, is Africa’s second-largest country in terms of population. 

It uses a unique calendar system different from the widely used Gregorian calendar. 

The Ethiopian Calendar, also known as “Ge’ez,” is seven to eight years behind the Gregorian Calendar. 

The primary reason for this difference is that the Ethiopian Calendar places Jesus’ birth in 7 BC, starting its count from that point. 

In contrast, the Gregorian calendar marks Jesus’ birth as 1 AD and begins its date count from that time.

In the era before Christ (BC), days were counted backward, and eras were labeled based on the notion of Jesus' birth. 

BC means “Before Christ,” and AD stands for “Anno Domini” or "in the year of the Lord." 

In non-Christian countries, AD is replaced with CE, “Common Era,” and BC with BCE, “Before the Common Era.” 

There are eight years of difference between 7 BC, when Ethiopians believe Jesus was born, and 1 AD, according to the Gregorian calendar. 

This discrepancy, along with other astronomical calculations, explains the years apart in both calendars.

A calendar system is a way people measure the passage of time. 

Ancient humans employed various methods to determine the length of the year and track seasons, organizing agricultural activities, planning religious ceremonies, and coordinating cultural events. 

Throughout history, calendars have been shaped by cultural practices, religious beliefs, and astronomical observations.

The evolution of calendar systems includes the Mayan long calendar, the Roman calendar, the Julian calendar, and the Gregorian calendar, among others. 

The Julian calendar, based on the solar system, calculates time and dates according to the Earth’s orbit around the sun. 

It was used for about 1,600 years but was criticized for not accurately reflecting the time it takes the Earth to revolve around the sun. 

The Julian Calendar sets a year at 365.25 days, rounding up to 365 days and 366 days in a leap year every four years to align more closely with the solar year. 

However, it was discovered that the Julian calendar was off by 11 minutes, leading to Pope Gregory XIII’s calendar reform in 1582.

The Gregorian calendar, named after Pope Gregory XIII, adapted the Julian calendar with a few updates. 

Other unique calendars today include the Chinese calendar, Hebrew calendar, Hijra calendar, and Hijiri Solar calendar. 

These calendars are used as the primary calendar systems in countries that adopt them, sometimes alongside the Gregorian calendar for both religious and civil purposes.

The Ethiopian calendar is based on the same astronomical calculations as the Gregorian calendar but differs in its calculation method and starting point. 

A full year in Ethiopia comprises 13 months: the first 12 months have 30 days each, while the 13th month has five days, or six days in a leap year. 

While the Gregorian calendar celebrates the new year on January 1 and Christmas on December 25, Ethiopia’s new year starts on September 11 or Meskerem 1, and Christmas is celebrated on January 7.

One myth about the Ethiopian Calendar is that one becomes eight years younger when traveling to Ethiopia. 

However, as an Ethiopian named Ms. Hanna clarified, traveling to Ethiopia doesn’t make someone physically younger by eight years. 

The difference in calendars doesn’t affect one’s age or the passage of time biologically. It’s merely a difference in how years are calculated and recorded. 

Additionally, people often mistakenly claim that Ethiopia is currently in 2017. Ms. Hanna explained that Ethiopia is actually in 2016, specifically in the eighth month called Miazya.

Historical records on the evolution of calendar systems and the Ethiopian calendar confirm that the Ethiopian calendar is seven to eight years behind the Gregorian calendar. 

Currently, Ethiopia is in 2016, in the eighth month of Miazya, reflecting its unique timekeeping tradition that continues to fascinate the world.