Ethiopia celebrated the new millennium on 11th September, 2007.Įthiopia has 13 months in a year( i.e 12 months with 30 days each and a 13th month with 5 days in a common year and 6 days in a leap year). When the Roman church adjusted its ancient calendar in 525 AD, Ethiopia did not change its calendar and so, Ethiopia is seven years behind the Gregorian calendar. He was also the spiritual leader of Rastafarians who was believed to be an incarnation of God. The word Rastafarian is derived from ‘Ras’ meaning chief in Ethiopia’s official language, Amharic and ‘Tafari’, the first name of former Ethiopian Emperor, Haile Selassie I. The history of Rastafari can be traced back to Africa though the movement was started and developed in Jamaica. The enticing aroma attracted other monks and the fruit was dissolved in hot water, yielding the world’s first cup of coffee.Ĥ) The Rastafarian Movement has links to Ethiopia He took these fruits to a monastery and a monk threw them into the fire. This led him to try and chew the fruits from the bush. One account is that a 9th century goat herder in Ethiopia noticed how energised his goats became whenever they fed from a certain bush. There are several accounts to exactly how it was discovered. It is confirmed that coffee was first discovered in Ethiopia and moved around the world through slave trading and other means. The night time cycle begins at dusk which is 6:00pm (EAT) and ends at dawn which is 5:59am (EAT).ģ) Coffee was first discovered in Ethiopia The daytime cycle begins at dawn which is 6:00am (EAT) and ends at dusk which is 5:59pm (EAT). Ethiopia does not observe daylight saving time. The time zone in Ethiopia is the East African Time (EAT). Ethiopia also stands as the only African country that has never been colonized.Ģ) Ethiopia is the only country in the world with a 12-hour time system, counting from dawn to dusk and from dusk to dawn It is also the second most populated country in Africa with a population of over 106 million people, making it second to Nigeria. 1) It is the oldest country in Africaįirst founded in 980 BC, Ethiopia is the oldest independent country in Africa.
From legendary beliefs to confusing times and dates, here are some facts about Ethiopia you probably didn’t know about. Ethiopia, the enthralling land of origins, is in North Eastern Africa and is home to diverse landscapes, deserts, volcanoes, highlands, and of course the famous rock-hewn churches.Įthiopia’s unique combination of culture, deep rooted history and stunning landscape makes it one of the most intriguing places on earth.