CELEBRATING
THE NEW YEAR IN ETHIOPIA
María
José Morales has been in Ethiopia almost two years, where the Community of St.
Paul, in cooperation with the Apostolic Vicariate of Meki, has initiated
several new apostolates in the areas of Health, Promotion of Women, Education,
Rural Access to Water and participation in the Vicariate’s Pastoral
Coordination. She shares with us one of the cultural peculiarities of this
interesting country.
"This
past September 11, we celebrated a very special feast in Ethiopia: the arrival
of the new year. Here we have just begun 2007!
“Indeed
in Ethiopia we continue using the Julian Calendar, established in the year 46
BC by Julius Caesar (to which it owes its name). It has 12 months of 30
days, and one month of 5 days –or six each 4 years. According to the Julian
Calendar, a year = 365.25 days.
“In
1582, Pope Gregory XII reformed the calendar and in the West, in an almost
universal manner, the Gregorian Calendar was adopted, according to which, as we
know, the calendar has 12 months, some with 30 days, some with 31 and one with
28 or 29 in leap years. However, in Ethiopia, they continue using the
Julian (Calendar). In other places, like for example, Russia or
Jerusalem, the situation is still more complex because the official calendar of
the country is the Gregorian, but the Orthodox churches from there continue
using the Julian Calendar in their liturgical celebrations.
“So, in
Ethiopia, since 46 BC, we have .25 days more each year than the rest of the
countries, and that makes our years advance more slowly. With a bit of humor (and they're right), the tourist marketers say that he who visits Ethiopia can enjoy
thirteen months of sun and feel 7 years younger.
“From
Meki, Ethiopia, you now know how our calendar works. We wish you all a very
Happy and Prosperous 2007.”
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