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Ethiopians enter 2019: Why their New Year traditions are different from Kenyans
11th September, 2026 11:04 AM
While Kenyans are already well into 2026, Ethiopians are on Thursday, September 11, 2026, welcoming a new year, 2019.
At first glance, the difference may appear confusing. However, Ethiopia is not behind Kenya by nearly seven years. The difference comes from the calendars used by the two countries.
Ethiopia follows the Ethiopian calendar, also known as the Ge’ez calendar, while Kenya uses the Gregorian calendar for its official dates. This means the two countries recognise the beginning of a new year at different times.
The contrast also extends to how the occasion is celebrated.
Different calendars, different New Year dates
In Kenya, New Year’s Day falls on January 1. The date is recognised as a public holiday under the Public Holidays Act.
For many Kenyans, the celebration begins on the night of December 31, with people counting down to midnight before welcoming the new year. Church services, family gatherings, parties, fireworks and visits to friends are some of the ways the occasion is marked.
Ethiopia, however, reaches its New Year in September.
According to the Embassy of Ethiopia, the Ethiopian calendar has 12 months of 30 days each, followed by a 13th month containing five days, or six during a leap year. The calendar is seven to eight years behind the Gregorian calendar.
That is why September 11, 2026, marks the beginning of 2019 in Ethiopia.
Enkutatash versus Kenya’s New Year
The Ethiopian New Year is known as Enkutatash. Unlike Kenya’s January celebrations, which come in the middle of the dry season in many parts of the country, Enkutatash arrives as Ethiopia approaches the end of its rainy season.
According to the Embassy of Ethiopia, September brings clearer skies and the blooming of the Meskel daisy, giving the season a strong connection to renewal and new beginnings. Children may dress in new clothes, sing and dance while giving flowers to households.
In Kenya, the New Year is more closely associated with the transition from December to January. For many people, it also comes after Christmas celebrations, meaning family gatherings and travel often continue into the New Year.
Family, food and celebrations
There is also a similarity between the two countries: food and family remain an important part of the celebrations.
In Ethiopia, families come together during Enkutatash, with traditional meals and drinks forming part of the occasion. Religious services are also an important part of the celebration for many Ethiopians.
In Kenya, New Year celebrations can also bring families and friends together around meals, church services and social gatherings. Some people use the occasion to travel upcountry, while others spend the holiday at home or attend events.
The difference is therefore not that one celebration is more traditional than the other, but that each has developed around its own calendar and cultural practices.
Why September feels like a fresh beginning
For Ethiopians, September is not simply another month in the year. It represents a transition.
The rainy season comes to an end, flowers begin to appear and communities prepare to enter another year. The Ethiopian Embassy describes Enkutatash as both a religious and cultural celebration, with traditional singing, dancing, flowers and New Year greetings forming part of the occasion.
For Kenyans, the same feeling of renewal comes in January.
The two countries therefore arrive at the same idea through different dates and traditions. Kenya turns the calendar in January, while Ethiopia does so in September.
So, when Ethiopians say they are entering 2019 while Kenyans are already in 2026, it is not a difference in age or time. It is a reflection of two calendar systems that have continued to shape how the two neighbouring African countries measure and celebrate a new year.
