The Ethiopian calendar is distinct from the Gregorian calendar in several ways. Unlike the Gregorian calendar, which is used internationally and is based on the solar year with 12 months of varying lengths, the Ethiopian calendar has 13 months. It includes 12 months of 30 days each and an additional month called “Pagumēn” with 5 or 6 days, depending on whether it’s a leap year.

This discrepancy stems from the challenge of pinpointing the exact year of Jesus Christ’s birth. According to the Ethiopian calendar, Jesus was born 7-8 years earlier than the year typically assigned by the Gregorian calendar. The Gregorian calendar calculates Jesus’s birth based on the founding of Rome, while the Ethiopian calendar, along with the Coptic Church in Egypt, relies on biblical events to determine the date of Christ’s birth.

The inclusion of the 13th month, Pagumēn, allows the Ethiopian calendar to stay aligned with the solar year, compensating for the extra days that accumulate beyond the 360 days covered by the 12 months. This unique structure reflects Ethiopia’s rich historical and cultural heritage, differentiating it from the more globally prevalent Gregorian system.