The Ethiopian calendar, or Bahere Hasab ("Sea of Thoughts"), is a unique 13-month solar system deeply rooted in ancient Egyptian and Coptic traditions. It features twelve months of exactly 30 days each, followed by a short 13th month called Pagumē, which has five days in common years and six in leap years. This distinct structure has led to the famous tourism slogan, "13 Months of Sunshine". The new year, Enkutatash, begins on September 11 (or September 12 in a leap year), marking the end of the rainy season and the blooming of the yellow Adey Abeba daisies.
Historically, Ethiopia is approximately seven to eight years behind the Gregorian calendar because it preserved the older Alexandrian calculation of Christ's birth, while the Roman Church adjusted its timeline in the 6th century. This separation was maintained largely because Ethiopia was never colonized, allowing it to keep its indigenous timekeeping and 12-hour clock system, which starts at dawn rather than midnight. To this day, the calendar remains a powerful symbol of national identity, governing everything from daily life and agricultural cycles to the religious festivals of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church.