While the world is in the middle of 2026, Ethiopians are experiencing the early months of 2018 according to the Ge'ez calendar — the official calendar system that this East African nation has maintained for many centuries. The 7 to 8-year gap compared to the Gregorian calendar stems from a difference in calculating the birth date of Jesus between the Ethiopian Church and Western tradition. Because Ethiopia was never completely colonized, the country was not forced to adopt the Western time system.
The Ge'ez calendar has 13 months: 12 fixed months of 30 days each and a 13th month called Pagumē with only 5 or 6 days. Ethiopians also calculate time from dawn — meaning 6 a.m. in the Gregorian calendar is considered 0 a.m. in theirs. Ethiopia's New Year celebration, called Enkutatash, takes place on September 11 or 12 on the Gregorian calendar each year. According to photographer Gashaw, the time difference causes serious confusion for both tourists and locals.
Ethiopia was never completely colonized — and the Ge'ez calendar is the most vivid proof of that.
Analysis
The story of Ethiopia's calendar reminds us of an often overlooked reality: the concept of "universal time" that the West takes for granted is actually a product of colonial power and geopolitical strength, not a natural truth.
Ethiopia is one of very few African countries that was never completely colonized — which explains why the Ge'ez calendar remains legally valid to this day. Japan, Thailand, and Iran also maintain their own calendar systems parallel to the Gregorian calendar, but not at the level of synchronized implementation throughout the entire state system like Ethiopia.
In practical terms, this difference creates considerable friction in economic integration. Foreign businesses investing in Ethiopia — including China and India, the two largest investors there — must build dual systems to cross-reference contracts, invoices, and delivery schedules. In the context of Ethiopia trying to attract investment to recover from the Tigray civil war (2020 to 2022), the time discrepancy is not a trivial matter.
Culturally, this is a clear example of how identity can be preserved through practical mechanisms — not just through language or clothing, but through the very way people measure days, months, and hours.