While the world rushes toward 2026, one country refuses to follow the global calendar, living in the year 2017.
Imagine a nation with 13 months in a year, celebrating New Year in September, and starting each day at 6 AM instead of midnight.
This isn’t a sci-fi story — it’s Ethiopia, a land where time, culture, and history collide to create a calendar system unlike anywhere else on Earth.
🕰️ 1️⃣ The Calendar That’s 7-8 Years Behind
ethiopia uses the Ancient Ge’ez calendar, also known as the Ethiopian calendar.
While the world follows the Gregorian system, ethiopia calculates its years based on the Ethiopian Orthodox Church’s timeline, believing Jesus Christ was born in 7 BC instead of AD 1.
Result: when the world is in 2025, ethiopia is still celebrating 2017.
📅 2️⃣ 13 Months, Not 12
Unlike the rest of the world, ethiopia has 13 months:
12 months of 30 days each
1 extra month, Pagume, of 5 days (or 6 in a leap year)
This unique system ensures that Ethiopians measure time differently, giving the country an unmatched temporal identity.
🎉 3️⃣ New Year Is in september — Enkutatash
The Ethiopian New Year, Enkutatash, means “gift of jewels” and is celebrated on September 11 (or 12 in a leap year).
While the world welcomes the year in January, ethiopia kicks off festivities with colorful celebrations, cultural rituals, and family gatherings — a full two months behind the global calendar.
✨ 4️⃣ Unique Timekeeping: Days Start at 6 AM
In ethiopia, midnight isn’t the start of the day — the day begins at 6:00 AM, meaning Ethiopian clocks run six hours behind international time.
Travelers often find this temporal shift both disorienting and fascinating, a reminder that time is truly relative.
⛪ 5️⃣ Beyond the Calendar: A Land of history and Culture
ethiopia isn’t just unique in its timekeeping:
Never colonized by european powers
Home to ancient rock-hewn churches
A melting pot of layers of history, culture, and religion
It’s a country where every day, month, and year tells a story of resilience, identity, and heritage.
💬 CONCLUSION:
ethiopia is the only country on Earth living in 2017 while the rest of the world races ahead.
With 13 months, a september New Year, and 6 AM days, it defies conventional calendars and offers a glimpse into a world where time itself is a cultural treasure.
For travelers, historians, and curious minds alike, ethiopia is not just a destination — it’s a journey into a reality that runs on its own clock.
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