Ethiopians are celebrating the first day of the Ethiopian New Year 2015 popularly known as Enkutatash today.
The Ethiopian calendar is a solar calendar based on the Egyptian and Julian calendars and was brought to Ethiopia by missionaries. The year consists of 12 months of 30 days and a thirteenth month of five or six timekeeping days.
The Ethiopian New Year falls on September 11 or 12 during a leap year. Based on the Julian calendar basis, the Ethiopian calendar is currently seven years and eight months behind the Gregorian calendar used in most of the world.
Ethiopian President Sahle Work Zewde and Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, among others, expressed their best wishes for the Ethiopians celebrating New Year in the country and abroad.
The just concluded year, 2014 was tough with the country experiencing an eruption of a fresh conflicts, economic strains, drought and diplomatic issues. The country is however hopeful that this new year there will be harmony and peaceful coexistence.
