While most of the world is going into the year 2024, Ethiopia just entered into the year 2017 and is celebrating its New Year, also known as Enkutatash. Many people who may not be familiar with the Ethiopian calendar may tend to come across in awe, while interestingly enough, there is a big historical and cultural reason in view for this.
The main difference between the Ethiopian Calendar and the Gregorian Calendar, in use by most of the world, is the difference in calculation of the birth year of Jesus Christ. While the Gregorian calculates the birth of Christ to be between 1 B.C. and 1 A.D., the Ethiopian Orthodox Church places the birth of Jesus Christ approximately seven to eight years later. That is the reason for the years going apart.
The Ethiopian calendar consists of 12 months lasting 30 days each, with a thirteenth month known as Pagumē, comprising five days or six in a leap year. Despite all this structure, it contains 365 days, just as many as the Gregorian calendar.
Enkutatash: Ethiopian New Year
Meskerem 1 is the New Year of Ethiopia, which usually corresponds to September 11 or September 12 according to the Gregorian calendar. Since this date concludes the rainy season, starting with this date, flowers will bloom throughout Ethiopia as a token of renovation and good hopes for the year.
The name “Enkutatash” itself means “gift of jewels,” derived from the biblical story of the Queen of Sheba returning to Ethiopia after visiting King Solomon, where she was given jewels. These days, Enkutatash is a time of festivity, where people join in revelry with music, dances, and family feasts. Children give out bouquets of fresh flowers as communities join in rejoicing at the start of a new year.
Why the Calendar of Ethiopia Has Survived
Among the various reasons why the calendar system of Ethiopia has remained intact is because their country was never under the colonial rule of European powers, and for that simple reason, it retained its ancient traditions and cultural identity. At a time when many nations of the world adopted the Gregorian calendar on the instance of their colonial masters, Ethiopia remained independent and steadfast with their traditional ways of marking time. The Ethiopian Orthodox Church has also played its role quite impressively in keeping the calendar alive, as it is entrenched in the religious practices and observances of the people.
Significance of New Year in Ethiopia
Enkutatash is not a change of year; it is a celebration of cultural and religious values, renewal, and reflection for Ethiopians in anticipation of hope for the future. This season falls at the end of the rainy season, which brings freshness and beauty into the atmosphere due to blooming flowers across the landscape, signifying new beginnings. Acts of joy, including traditional music, dances, and community gatherings, mark events around this holiday.
People all over the country greet each other with good wishes, gifts, and flowers. Children go from door to door, singing songs and holding an armful of flowers, and a special meal is prepared by every family on this day. In big cities such as Addis Ababa, morning services are carried out in churches, while the celebrations go on throughout the day.
Celebration of Ethiopia’s Distinct Identity
Enkutatash means Ethiopia’s national identity, remembrance of its rich history, independence, and deeply rooted cultural heritage. This special calendar to Ethiopians is more than a means of counting years but proud symbolism of resilience and continuity that has braved the test of time.
While most of the world moves on to 2024, the entry into 2017 in Ethiopia reflects the uniqueness and strength of a culture that has kept its traditions in a world of fast changes.
