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In most parts of the world, people are already well into 2011 battling the inflation and economic dips that have characterised the world
In Kenya, we would probably talk about the terrible trend the shilling has had in year 2011 as we prepare for the General Election of 2012.
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ENKUTATASH! A happy year indeed to this little one who joined other jolly Ethiopians to usher in year 2004 last Sunday. The Ethiopian calendar is about eight years behind what the rest of the world uses. However, the country uses both calendars to in running its affairs. Photos: Courtesy |
It celebrated their 2004 New Year’s Eve with various festive activities last Sunday, almost eight years behind the rest of the world.
Unique calendar
The Ethiopian calendar, which falls seven to eight years behind the Gregorian calendar, is still observed in the Horn of Africa country.
The unique calendar has 13 months. The last month in the calendar comprises five or six days, depending on whether it is a leap year or not, with the last 12 months having 30 days.
Just like the New
For the Ethiopians who have just entered the year 2004, New Year celebrations are marked by several activities, which include slaughtering sheep and chicken for family meals, displaying fireworks in main squares and lighting wooden torches symbolising the sunshine after the three-month rainy season.
According to Xinhua, this year’s New Year’s Eve saw more Addis Ababa residents go out to celebrate with fireworks being displayed in grand squares where people were dancing and singing.
Mulugeta Ayene, who was among those who came to the capital’s Edna Square to celebrate, said the spirit of the Eve was fantastic and wished all Ethiopians a happy and prosperous year in 2004.
A father with two children at the same square also told Xinhua that the Eve was nice with a happy spirit.
Tarekegn and Paranso, two young boys from south Ethiopia vending small merchandise on a cart-driven shop in the metropolis said the new year festivities was bringing them good business as people bought more merchandise for the celebrations.
Prisoners released
The Ethiopian calendar, though disconnected from the Gregorian calendar, the internationally accepted civil calendar that we use, is recognised and marked by fanfare even by the government.
Reports show that the Ethiopian federal and a regional government announced release and pardon of over 8,000 inmates as the country marked its entry into the New Year — a common way of extending the celebratory mood to others in worse off situations.
The Ethiopian calendar, modelled on the Julian calendar, also serves as the liturgical calendar for some Christians in Eritrea. Its religious connection does not end there, however.
The Amharic word for the Ethiopian New Year is Enkutatash meaning the ‘gift of jewels’ after the gifts given to the Queen of Sheba by her chiefs when she returned from visiting King Solomon in Jerusalem.
It occurs on September 11 in the Gregorian calendar, except for leap years, when it occurs on September 12.
At this time, it is at the end of the big rains and the highlands turn gold with the yellow flowers.
Ethiopian children dance through the villages giving bouquets of flowers.
Ethiopians are, however, not the only ones using a different calendar from the Gregorian calendar with several cultures and religions using different calendars to guide their activities but the use is limited. For example, the Ibo people of West Africa have the Ibo calendar that has 13 months with seven weeks each, and four days in each week.
It is notable that visitors to Ethiopia will not be given receipts dated 2004. Official business is conducted in 2011, in tandem with the rest of the world.
Happy New Year 2004 Ethiopia!
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