By Tilahun B. Selassie Bete
Are Ethiopians behind or Europeans ahead by 7 years to celebrate 2nd Millennium?
When the 1st Millennium was celebrated exactly 1000 years ago this year Ethiopian Calendar existed but Gregorian calendar did not. Gregorian calendar was decreed by Pope Gregory XIII of Vatican in 1582. He added 7 years and 8 months to the then existing calendar and has shifted Christmas from 7th January to 25th December by dropping 13 days. At a latter date many countries one by one started to adopt Gregorian Calendar. Britain adopted it after a deal with Vatican to shift the new-year from March to January.
The shortest day in the northern hemisphere is 24th of December and since years unknown, people in Europe used to celebrate a pagan holiday on December 25th until the Catholic Priests commenced to have a mass to celebrate the birth of Christ thereby changing the name of the holiday to Christ Mass. However, the eastern churches including the Ethiopian Orthodox church preserved 7th January as the true birthday of Jesus Christ.
Be that as it may, taking the 1st Millennium celebration into account, Ethiopians are now celebrating the 2nd Millennium on 12th September exactly after 1000 years of the celebration of 1st Millennium, whereas Europeans celebrated it 7 years early.
In this situation, “Who is behind or who is ahead?”
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