EthiopiaWhy is Ethiopia 7 years behind? The Ethiopian calendar explained
Ethiopia uses its own calendar, which is seven to eight years behind the Gregorian one because its church dates the Incarnation of Jesus differently. The Ethiopian New Year, Enkutatash, fell on 11 September 2026 and began the year 2019, which runs until 11 September 2027. The year has 13 months: twelve of 30 days plus Pagume, a short month of five days, or six in a leap year such as 2019.
Updated Sept 2026 · 6 min
What to expectEthiopian Christmas (Genna): when is it and how is it celebrated?
Ethiopian Christmas, called Genna, is celebrated on 7 January (29 Tahsas in the Ethiopian calendar), the same day as other Orthodox churches that follow the Julian reckoning. The next Genna is Thursday 7 January 2027. For many Orthodox Christians it ends a roughly six-week fast, starts with an all-night church service on Christmas Eve and continues with a family feast of doro wat and injera. Lalibela, the famous Genna pilgrimage, is in Amhara, under UK all-travel and US Do Not Travel advice as of September 2026.
Updated Sept 2026 · 6 min
What to expectWhat is Enkutatash, the Ethiopian New Year, and when is it?
Enkutatash is the Ethiopian New Year, held on 1 Meskerem, the first day of the Ethiopian calendar. It falls on 11 September in most years and on 12 September in the Gregorian year before a leap year. Enkutatash on 11 September 2026 began the Ethiopian year 2019; the next one, on Sunday 12 September 2027, begins 2020. It marks the end of the long rains and is celebrated with church services, yellow adey abeba flowers, children's songs, torches on the eve and family feasts.
Updated Sept 2026 · 6 min
What to expectWhat is Ethiopian Orthodox fasting and how does it affect travellers?
Members of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church fast by giving up all animal products (meat, dairy and eggs), and devout people often skip breakfast or eat nothing until the afternoon. Most Wednesdays and Fridays are fast days, plus seven church fasting seasons; the longest is the 55-day Great Lent before Fasika (Easter), which falls on 2 May in 2027. For travellers it mostly means excellent vegan food and fewer meat dishes in traditional restaurants on fast days. Visitors are not expected to fast.
Updated Sept 2026 · 6 min
What to expectWhat is Meskel and when is it? Ethiopia's Demera bonfire festival explained
Meskel is the Ethiopian Orthodox feast of the Finding of the True Cross, held on 17 Meskerem in the Ethiopian calendar: 27 September in most years, and 28 September in the year before a Gregorian leap year. Its highlight is the Demera, a huge bonfire lit at dusk on the eve in Meskel Square, Addis Ababa. In 2026 the Demera was lit on 26 September and Meskel fell on 27 September; in 2027 Meskel is on Tuesday 28 September, with the Demera on the evening of Monday 27 September. UNESCO added Meskel to its intangible heritage list in 2013.
Updated Sept 2026 · 5 min
EthiopiaWhat is there to do in Bishoftu (Debre Zeit)?
Bishoftu, the town once called Debre Zeit, is about 47 km south-east of Addis Ababa and is known for its volcanic crater lakes, including Hora, Bishoftu, Babogaya and Kuriftu, plus the seasonal Cheleklaka wetland. People come for lakeside lunches, birdwatching, short walks and resort weekends, and for Irreecha, the Oromo thanksgiving festival at Lake Hora, set for Sunday 4 October 2026. As of 28 September 2026 the US names Bishoftu as an exception to its Do Not Travel advice for Oromia, and the UK exempts the expressway corridor from Addis to Bishoftu.
Updated Sept 2026 · 6 min
What to expectWhen is Timkat and where can you see it?
Timkat, the Ethiopian Orthodox celebration of Christ's baptism (Epiphany), falls on 19 January in most years and 20 January in Gregorian leap years. In 2027 the eve, Ketera, is Monday 18 January, Timkat is Tuesday 19 January, and St Michael's churches hold their processions on 20 January. The easiest big celebration for visitors to reach right now is at Jan Meda in Addis Ababa. Gondar and Lalibela are famous for Timkat but are in Amhara, where, as of late September 2026, the UK advises against all travel and the US says Do Not Travel.
Updated Sept 2026 · 5 min
When to goWhen is the best time to visit Ethiopia? Rainy season and weather explained
For most of Ethiopia the easiest time to travel is the dry season, roughly October to March. The main rains, kiremt, run from June to September and are heaviest in July and August, when Addis Ababa gets rain on most days. Addis sits at about 2,355 metres, so it stays mild all year, with average highs of roughly 21–26°C and cool nights. In late September 2026 the UK and US warn against travel to Amhara, Tigray and other regions, so for now the best-season question mostly applies to Addis and the corridors south to Bishoftu and Hawassa.
Updated Sept 2026 · 5 min