The Country That Is Living In 2017, Where A Year Has 13 Months And New Year Comes In September | World News
New Delhi: Most of the world is approaching the end of 2025, but there is one country still alive in 2017. This country is Ethiopia. It follows a calendar called the Ge’ez, or Ethiopian, calendar, which is about seven to eight years behind the Gregorian calendar used by most of the world. In this system, there are 13 months in a year instead of 12. Twelve months have 30 days, and the 13th month has five or six days, depending on whether it is a leap year.
This is why Ethiopia celebrates the New Year in September, not January, making it one of the most unique countries in the world.
While most of the world celebrates on January 1, Ethiopians await September 11. In leap years, the celebration is moved to September 12. This day is called Enkutatash, which means “gift of jewels”. The festival symbolizes the end of the rainy season and the beginning of sunlight and renewal. Even Christmas is celebrated differently here; Not on December 25, but on January 7.
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When Woven by Tradition
Ethiopia’s unique calendar comes from the Orthodox Christian tradition. The difference in counting years is how the birth of Jesus Christ is counted. While most Christian nations follow the Gregorian count, which begins with what they believe to be the year of Jesus’ birth, the Ethiopian Orthodox Church believes Jesus was born seven years earlier. This calculation changed the timeline and Ethiopia remained with its old census.
Although global trade and governance operate according to the Gregorian system, most Ethiopians continue to live their daily lives according to the Ge’ez calendar. Banks, schools and government offices often display both dates side by side; one for the world and the other for Ethiopia.
A Different Sense of Time
Even the day starts differently here. While most countries start counting the day from midnight, Ethiopians start the day at sunrise. What the world calls 6 o’clock in the morning, Ethiopians call 12 o’clock. According to international time, noon time is 18:00 in Ethiopia. The timing system reflects how life revolves around sunlight and nature.
A Separate Nation
Ethiopia is not only unique in its timekeeping. It also has a special place in history. It is the only African country that was never colonized by European powers. Its culture remains deeply committed to tradition, spirituality and self-identity. The country is home to ancient rock-cut churches, rich Orthodox Christian rituals, and one of the world’s oldest culinary traditions based on fasting and vegetarian meals.
Ethiopia is also known as the cradle of humanity. The fossil of Lucy, one of the oldest known human ancestors, was discovered here in 1974. Surrounded by Kenya, Somalia, Eritrea and Sudan, its territory forms the center of the Horn of Africa, a region steeped in history and legend.
Calendar as Identity
The Ge’ez calendar is more than a measure of time. It is part of Ethiopia’s identity. It shapes festivals, agricultural seasons and religious ceremonies. It connects people to their ancestors and their faith. For Ethiopians, being seven years behind the world is not a disadvantage. It is a sign of pride and a reminder that time, like culture, is created by people, not power.
Ethiopia’s clock may tick slower than the rest of the world, but its heritage runs deep. The country embodies an ageless truth in its 13-month year: Every civilization creates its own rhythm and every culture defines its own time.
