Have you ever wondered why September, derived from the Latin “septem” (seven), is the ninth month? Or why October, from “octo” (eight), is the tenth? It’s strange, isn’t it? Even stranger, Ethiopia uses a 13-month calendar and runs seven to eight years behind the rest of the world. In 2020, when COVID-19 hit, Ethiopia was in “2012”—the year tied to Mayan doomsday predictions. Some claim this points to a conspiracy, suggesting calendars were altered to hide natural cycles or obscure history. Let’s explore Ethiopia’s unique 13-month calendar, the history of our 12-month system, and whether there’s truth to these intriguing theories.
Why Our Calendar’s Months Don’t Add Up
Most of us rely on the Gregorian calendar—12 months, 365 days, with a leap day every four years. It’s the standard for everything from birthdays to business deals. But the names of months like September and October don’t match their positions. September should be the seventh month, not ninth; October the eighth, not tenth. So, what’s the deal?
The Gregorian Calendar’s Origins
The Gregorian calendar, introduced by Pope Gregory XIII in 1582, replaced the Julian calendar, established by Julius Caesar around 46 BC. The Julian calendar had 12 months but miscalculated the solar year (365.25 days) by about 11 minutes annually. Over centuries, this caused seasonal drift, throwing off events like Easter. Gregory XIII fixed this by skipping 10 days in October 1582 and adjusting leap years. The month names, inherited from the Romans, stayed the same to avoid confusion. So, September remained “seventh” despite being ninth, and October “eighth” despite being tenth.
A Conspiracy Behind the Mismatch?
Some theorists see this as evidence of a cover-up. They argue the calendar was deliberately changed to disrupt natural rhythms or hide a lost 13-month calendar system. Could there be truth to this idea, or is it just a quirk of history? Let’s dig deeper.
The 13-Month Calendar Conspiracy Theory
A popular theory claims ancient societies used a 13-month calendar, with each month lasting 28 days, aligning closely with lunar cycles (about 28.5 days). This would total 364 days, leaving one or two “extra days” to match the solar year. Supporters say this system was more natural, syncing with lunar phases and even human cycles. They argue the switch to 12 months was a power move—often blamed on the Romans—to control time, disrupt agricultural patterns, or erase sacred knowledge. The misnamed months are seen as clues to this suppressed system.
Does History Support This?
The evidence is shaky. Before Julius Caesar, the Roman calendar had 10 months starting in March, leaving winter days uncounted. Around 713 BC, King Numa Pompilius added January and February, creating 12 months. There’s no solid record of a widespread 13-month calendar in ancient times, though some cultures, like the Egyptians, used lunar systems for religious purposes. The conspiracy theory often ignores these details, crafting a narrative that’s more compelling than factual. Still, it’s easy to see why the idea of a “natural” 13-month calendar captures imaginations.
Ethiopia’s 13-Month Calendar: A Unique System
Ethiopia is the only country using a 13-month calendar, called the Ge’ez or Ethiopian Calendar. It’s a solar calendar with 12 months of 30 days each, plus a 13th month, Pagumē, with five days (six in leap years). This keeps it aligned with the solar year, much like the Gregorian calendar. But why 13 months, and why is Ethiopia seven to eight years behind?
Roots in the Coptic Calendar
The Ethiopian Calendar comes from the Coptic Calendar, used by Egypt’s Coptic Orthodox Church. Around AD 400, Alexandrian scholars like Panodoros and Annianus calculated the world’s creation and Jesus’s birth differently from Western scholars. They placed Jesus’s birth in 7 BC, not 1 AD, as Dionysius Exiguus did in AD 525 for the Gregorian system. This different Annunciation calculation creates the seven- to eight-year gap.
How Ethiopia’s Calendar Works
Ethiopia’s year starts on Meskerem 1, around September 11 or 12 in the Gregorian calendar, marking the end of the rainy season and the bloom of the Adey Abeba flower. Pagumē, meaning “forgotten days” in Greek, handles extra days to match the solar cycle. Unlike the Gregorian calendar’s uneven months (28, 30, or 31 days), Ethiopia’s system is neat—30 days per month, with Pagumē as a short bonus.
A Symbol of Independence
Ethiopia never adopted the Gregorian calendar, partly because it resisted European colonization. While much of Africa adopted Western systems, Ethiopia’s independence preserved its traditions, making the 13-month calendar a point of cultural pride. It’s used for festivals like Enkutatash (New Year) and Genna (Christmas, January 7).
The 2012 Doomsday and Ethiopia’s “2012” in 2020
Here’s where things get wild. In 2012, the Mayan calendar’s “end” on December 21 sparked global fears of doomsday. The Maya’s Long Count calendar marked the end of a 5,126-year cycle, but experts clarified it signaled a new era, not destruction. Nothing happened, and the panic faded.
Fast-forward to 2020, when COVID-19 brought global chaos. Some noticed Ethiopia’s calendar was in 2012 (2012 EC ran from September 11, 2019, to September 10, 2020). This led to theories linking 2020’s pandemics, wildfires, and locusts to the Mayan prophecy, suggesting it was “off” by eight years because Ethiopia’s calendar is the “true” one.
Is There a Connection?
This idea doesn’t hold up. Ethiopia’s calendar lags due to its Annunciation calculation, not because it’s more accurate. The Mayan calendar’s cycle wasn’t a doomsday prediction, and tying it to COVID is a coincidence. Calendars track time, not events. But the theory thrives because 2020 felt apocalyptic, and people love finding patterns, even if they’re flimsy.
Why the Conspiracy Theory Persists
The 13-month calendar theory, Ethiopia’s system, and the 2012/2020 link resonate because they challenge assumptions. Time feels universal, but calendars are human-made, shaped by culture, religion, and power. Ethiopia’s calendar shows a different way to measure life. The misnamed months fuel suspicion about historical narratives. And during crises like COVID, people seek meaning, even in far-fetched ideas.
The theory has gaps. No hard evidence supports a global 13-month calendar suppressed by elites. Ethiopia’s system is unique due to its Coptic roots and independence, not a universal truth. The 2012 doomsday was a misread of Mayan cosmology, unconnected to Ethiopia’s timeline.
What Ethiopia’s Calendar Teaches Us
Ethiopia’s 13-month calendar is more than a curiosity—it’s a living tradition tying a nation to its roots. Visiting Ethiopia feels like stepping into another time, not because it’s “behind,” but because it preserves ancient practices. Enkutatash, with its feasts and flowers, or Genna’s solemn rituals, show how the calendar shapes life.
A Traveler’s Perspective
For visitors, it’s a chance to rethink time. You can celebrate New Year twice—January 1 and September 11. Many Ethiopians use both calendars, so navigation is easy, but rural areas rely on the Ge’ez system, grounding life in ancient rhythms.
The Bigger Picture
The conspiracy is a gripping story, but history’s less dramatic. Calendars evolved through practical fixes, not sinister plots. Ethiopia’s 13-month calendar proves time can be measured differently, and that’s fascinating enough.
Time Isn’t Set in Stone
Ethiopia’s 13-month calendar, the Gregorian system’s quirks, and the 2012/2020 theory show time is a story we shape. Ethiopia, currently in 2017 EC, lives by a calendar that’s both ancient and practical. The misnamed months hint at historical shifts, but no grand conspiracy exists. The Mayan doomsday link to COVID? Just a quirky coincidence.
Try finding your birthday in the Ethiopian Calendar—it’s a fun way to see time anew. What do you think? Is there more to our calendar than meets the eye, or is it just a tool we’ve refined over time?