Welcoming 2019: The Astronomy, Nature, and Tradition Behind Ethiopia’s New Year
Tomorrow, while much of the world is midway through September 2026, Ethiopia pauses to celebrate the dawn of a brand-new year: 2019.
If you are new to Ethiopian culture, or if you’ve ever tried explaining our calendar to a friend, you know it always brings up wonderful questions. Why are we seven to eight years behind? Why do we say we have 13 months? And why does the New Year fall in September?
As we step into 2019, here is the full story behind Enkutatash (እንቁጣጣሽ) and the unique astronomical rhythm of the Ethiopian calendar.
1. Why We Are Welcoming 2019 (Not 2026)
The 7-to-8-year difference comes down to how the birth of Jesus Christ was calculated centuries ago:
Two Different Calculations: In the 4th century AD, the scholar Annianus of Alexandria calculated the date of the Annunciation. A century later, a monk named Dionysius Exiguus created a different calculation, which eventually became the basis for the Western Gregorian calendar.
Preserving the Heritage: The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church retained the original calculation by Annianus. Because Ethiopia never adopted the 1582 Gregorian calendar reform introduced by Pope Gregory XIII, the country remained on its historical timeline.
The Result: Every September 11 (or September 12 in a leap year), Ethiopia welcomes the next year. Tomorrow, we officially step into 2019!
2. The Science Behind the 13 Months
Ever wonder how “13 Months of Sunshine” works scientifically? It all comes down to solar mathematics:
The Solar Orbit: It takes the Earth approximately 365 days to complete one full orbit around the Sun.
Mathematical Symmetry: While the Western calendar uses irregular month lengths (28, 30, or 31 days), the Ethiopian calendar uses 12 perfectly equal months of 30 days each (12 \times 30 = 360).
The Mini Month (Pagume): The remaining 5 days (or 6 days in a leap year) form a short 13th month called Pagume (ጳጉሜ). We just wrapped up Pagume today, clearing the path for Meskerem 1 tomorrow!
3. Nature in Cosmic Balance: Why Meskerem is the New Year
As renowned Ethiopian scholar and researcher Dr. Rodas Tadesse often highlights in his study of traditional Ethiopian astronomy, the timing of Meskerem is tied directly to the Earth’s natural equilibrium and seasonal transition:
Equal Day and Night (The Equinox): In traditional Ethiopian astronomical calculations, Meskerem (September) and Megabit (March) mark the two times of the year when day and night are completely equal: 12 hours of light and 12 hours of darkness. This astronomical balance (Kamis) represents cosmic order, making Meskerem the ideal time to reset the calendar.
The End of the Heavy Rains (Kiremt): September marks the end of the heavy 3-month rainy season in the highlands. As floodwaters subside and gray clouds clear into bright blue skies, fields burst into yellow with Adey Abeba (Bidens macroptera) flowers, heralds of spring, harvest, and new life.
The Gift of Jewels: Tradition holds that the name Enkutatash translates to “Gift of Jewels.” Legend says that when the Queen of Sheba returned from visiting King Solomon in Jerusalem, her chiefs welcomed her back with precious jewels (enku), giving the holiday its name.
4. How We Celebrate Enkutatash
Enkutatash is a time for family, warmth, and spiritual renewal:
The Chibo Bonfire: On New Year’s Eve, families light a torch of dried wood and reeds called a Chibo (ችቦ), singing traditional songs together around the fire to burn away the old year.
The Abebayehosh Tradition: On New Year’s morning, young girls wear traditional white hand-woven dresses (Habesha Kemis), visiting neighbors door-to-door singing “Abebayehosh” and handing out yellow Adey Abeba flowers.
Festive Feasting & Coffee: Families gather for a feast centered around spicy Doro Wat, freshly baked Ambasha bread, and a traditional Coffee Ceremony (Buna) with freshly roasted beans and incense.
Connect Deeper with Your Heritage in 2019 🌼
A new year is the ultimate invitation for growth, connection, and fresh starts. Whether your goal for 2019 is to help your children speak with their grandparents, reconnect with your roots, or master conversational Amharic for your next trip, we are here to walk with you.
At አንድ Learning Platform, we offer personalized 1-on-1 Amharic instruction tailored for heritage learners, adults, and kids.
New Year Offer: Start your 2019 language journey with us! Book a 1-on-1 trial lesson today at andlearninghub.com.
መልካም አዲስ ዓመት! May 2019 bring you and your family peace, joy, and deep connection
