2026 or 2018?
While most countries entered 2026 as December 31st ended, Ethiopia instead stayed in the year 2018. This East African country with a population of over 137 million seems to be seven years behind the rest of the world. Its current year is just one of the many examples of its uniqueness.
Ethiopia doesn’t follow the Gregorian calendar that most other cultures use. For them, the birth ofJesus is set to 7 AC which is why they live in 2018. Ethiopians celebrate the new year on September 11th.
These differences occur because the predominant religion of the country is a branch of Christianity, the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. This church has its unique traditions.
First, Christmas is celebrated on January 7th instead of December 25th. The celebration is called Ganna and people dress in white, wearing a netala, a traditional garment. During the 43 days before, devoted Ethiopians participate in the “Fast of the Prophets”. They abstain from animal products, eat only one meal per day, and increase prayer and reflection time.
Then, twelve days after Christmas on January 19th, Christian Ethiopians celebrate Timkat, a celebration of Jesus’ baptism. On the eve of Timkat, the tabot (a replica of the Ark of the Covenant) is taken out of the church by the priest and their followers and brought to a body of water. The priest then blesses the water and sprays everyone in it. Timkat is meant to be a reenactment of Jesus’ baptism and a celebration of rebirth.
Ethiopia is a beautiful country with distinct traditions and culture that make it stand out among others!
Sources:
https://www.whychristmas.com/cultures/ethiopia https://www.whatsoutaddis.com/ganna-celebrating-christmas-in-ethiopia/ https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/travel/destinations/explained-why-this-country-is-still-in-2018-despite-the-world-being-in-2026/articleshow/126307410.cms https://www.thearda.com/us-religion/group-profiles/groups?D=299
