Imagine a world where travelling to a different country could make you feel seven years younger. It sounds like a concept straight out of science fiction, but this idea stems from the Ethiopian calendar.
So, what is behind this age-altering myth?
The Ethiopian calendar, also known as the Ge’ez calendar, is about seven to eight years behind the Gregorian calendar, which most of the world follows. This difference originates from a historical discrepancy in how the birth of Jesus Christ is dated. The Ethiopian calendar places Jesus’ birth in 7 BC (Before Christ), while the Gregorian calendar begins with 1 AD (Anno Domini). This results in the Ethiopian calendar being several years behind its Gregorian counterpart.
Calendars have evolved in various ways to track time and organise society. The Julian calendar, used before the Gregorian, was eventually replaced because it didn’t align perfectly with the Earth’s orbit around the sun. Pope Gregory XIII introduced the Gregorian calendar in 1582 to correct these inaccuracies, but the Ethiopian calendar has maintained its traditional calculations.
In Ethiopia, a year consists of 13 months: 12 months with 30 days each, and an additional month called Pagumē with either 5 or 6 days. Ethiopia celebrates its New Year on September 11 (or September 12 in a Gregorian leap year) and Christmas on January 7.
While the idea that a trip to Ethiopia could make you “younger” is an amusing myth, it is important to remember that the calendar difference does not affect your actual age. It is simply a matter of how years are counted and recorded. Currently, Ethiopia is in 2016, during the 8th month called Miazya.
So, while you will not literally turn back time by visiting Ethiopia, you will experience a unique cultural perspective.
