What is the Ethiopian calendar?
Q: What is the Ethiopian calendar?
A: The Ethiopian calendar is the main calendar used in Ethiopia, serving as the liturgical calendar for Christians in Eritrea and Ethiopia belonging to the Orthodox Tewahedo churches, Eastern Catholic Church and Coptic Orthodox Church.
Q: Is the Ethiopian calendar a solar calendar?
A: Yes, the Ethiopian calendar is a solar calendar which comes from the Egyptian calendar, but like the Julian calendar, it adds a leap day every four years.
Q: When does the Ethiopian calendar begin the year?
A: The Ethiopian calendar begins the year on August 29 or August 30 in the Julian calendar.
Q: Why is there a seven to eight-year gap between the Ethiopian and Gregorian calendars?
A: There is a seven to eight-year gap between the Ethiopian and Gregorian calendars due to an alternate calculation in determining the date of the annunciation of Jesus.
Q: Which churches follow the Ethiopian calendar as their liturgical calendar?
A: Christians in Eritrea and Ethiopia belonging to the Orthodox Tewahedo churches, Eastern Catholic Church, and Coptic Orthodox Church follow the Ethiopian calendar as their liturgical calendar.
Q: What is the origin of the Ethiopian calendar?
A: The Ethiopian calendar comes from the Egyptian calendar as a solar calendar and adds a leap day every four years like the Julian calendar.
Q: Why does the Ethiopian calendar add a leap day every four years?
A: The Ethiopian calendar adds a leap day every four years like the Julian calendar to adjust the calendar to the solar year.
