Ethiopians to celebrate Millennium New Year 7 years late

11/09/2007

On the 12th of September a late round of millennium celebrations will begin in Ethiopia.

Two calendars co-exist in Ethiopia. Those that speak Amharic live in 1999 and those that speak English are living in September 2007. Those that speak both change the date depending on which language they are speaking.

Rooted in Ethiopian history, the Christian Orthodox Church and their national identity the traditional Ethiopian calendar provides 13 months, which they boast to tourists as an extra month of sunshine.

It is believed that the New Year date and 13th month stems from the ancient Egyptian calendar and the annual flooding of the Nile. The difference of seven years is believed to be because the Ethiopian Church didn’t change their calendar when the Romans updated theirs by seven years in 500 AD. With ever increasing isolation throughout history and a highly conservative culture Ethiopia has kept the traditional calendar in use and is not about to change.

There are many events and New Year’s Eve parties planned for the beginning of the millennium in Ethiopia. Addis Ababa will be awash with flag waving children, chicken stew and honey wine, coloured lights and two large, white fibreglass doves of peace in Meskal Square.

This special millennium New Year’s Eve party in Ethiopia will feature a local singers and troupes and a concert by the Black Eyed Peas as well. As poverty is still a daily struggle for most Ethiopians their Enkutatash or New Year’s Eve parties will be about family and friend reunions.