Which calendar does Ethiopia traditionally use when celebrating its New Year, Enkutatash?

Ethiopia traditionally uses the Ethiopian calendar when celebrating its New Year, Enkutatash.

Enkutatash usually falls on September 11 in the Gregorian calendar, or September 12 in the year before a Gregorian leap year. The holiday marks the beginning of the Ethiopian year and is associated with the end of the rainy season, fresh greenery, flowers, songs, and family gatherings. Children may sing seasonal songs and receive gifts or money.

The Ethiopian calendar has twelve months of thirty days each, followed by a short thirteenth month called Pagumen. That final month has five days in an ordinary year and six in a leap year. Its year numbering also differs from the Gregorian system, so the Ethiopian calendar date is not simply a renamed Gregorian date.

Enkutatash is a major cultural and religious holiday, with observances varying between communities and faith traditions. A frequent mistake is to call it “Ethiopian September” without explaining the calendar difference. The holiday is not Ethiopia’s January 1 celebration; it is the New Year according to the country’s traditional calendar.