Just Facts - Calendars

You may already know that the time in Ethiopia (East Africa Time) is 9 hours ahead of our Central Standard Time or 8 hours ahead of the current Central Daylight Time. But here is something you may not have known...Ethiopia is currently in the year 2003!

There are a number of differences between the calendar we use (the Gregorian calendar) and the one used in Ethiopia (the Ge'ez calendar). The main difference is the seven- to eight-year gap. This comes about as a result of alternate calculations in determining the date of the Annunciation of Jesus. Apparently, in 400 AD Annianus of Alexandria calculated everything one way, but then in 525 AD Dionysius Exiguus calculated it to be different and his calculations were eventually adopted by the Europeans and that is what we all use now. I'm not sure how that all works, but I guess there isn't a law saying that everyone in the world must agree on what year it is.

Another difference, as if that one wasn't enough, is the layout of the months. In the Ge'ez calendar, each year has 12 months that are 30 days long. That makes sense enough. But then they throw in a few extra epagonemal days (days within a solar calendar that are outside any regular month) which make up a 13th month. There are typically 5 of these days tacked onto the end of the year, but every 4 years there is a 6th day to account for leap year (which occurs during the year prior to when we celebrate leap year).

Oh, and one other thing...the new year in Ethiopia starts on our September 11 (or September 12 during an Ethiopian leap year). So I guess that means we are approximately 8.5 months into the year 2003.

Just go ahead and add this to the list of things you never cared to know!