17facts you may not know about Ethiopia
1. Birthplace of Coffee: Ethiopia is widely considered the birthplace of coffee. Legend has it that a goat herder named Kaldi discovered the invigorating effects of coffee beans after noticing that his goats became lively when consuming them.
2. Unique calendar: Ethiopia follows its own unique calendar, known as the Ethiopian calendar or the Ge’ez calendar. It consists of 13 months, 12 months of 30 days each, and the 13th month of 5 or 6 days depending on whether it is a leap year.
3. Lucy's Homeland: Ethiopia is where the famous skeletal remains of "Lucy", one of the oldest and most complete human fossils ever found, were discovered in the Afar region in 1974.
4. World Heritage Sites: Ethiopia boasts a total of nine UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including Lalibela, Axum, and Simien Mountains National Park.
5. Linguistic Diversity: Ethiopia is incredibly linguistically diverse, with over 80 different ethnic groups and languages spoken across the country. Amharic is the official language, but there are many other languages including Oromo, Tigrinya and Somali.
6. Ark of the Covenant: According to Ethiopian tradition, the Ark of the Covenant, which is said to contain tablets inscribed with the Ten Commandments, is located in the Church of the Virgin Mary of Zion in Axum.
7. Land of Origins: Ethiopia is often referred to as the “Land of Origins” due to its rich history and the fact that it is one of the oldest sites of human existence.
8. Diverse Cuisine: Ethiopian cuisine is known for its unique flavors and communal dining style. Injera, a sourdough flatbread, is a staple food, and many spicy stews and dishes such as doro wat (spicy chicken soup) are also popular.
9. Source of the Blue Nile: The Blue Nile, one of the main tributaries of the Nile River, originates from Lake Tana in Ethiopia.
10. Religious diversity: Ethiopia is one of the oldest Christian countries in the world, and Christianity is the dominant religion. In addition, Islam has a large presence, especially in the eastern and northern regions.
11. Ethiopian Alphabet: Ethiopia has its own unique alphabet called the Ge'ez script, which is used to write Amharic, Tigrinya and other languages.
12. Lalibela Churches: The rock-cut churches of Lalibela are a remarkable feat of engineering, with 11 monolithic medieval churches carved entirely into the rock.
13. Danakil Depression: Ethiopia is home to the Danakil Depression, one of the hottest and lowest places on Earth. It is also known for its surreal landscapes, including brightly colored sulfur fields and bubbling lava lakes.
14. Connection to Rastafarianism: Ethiopia holds significance for Rastafarians, who believe it is their spiritual homeland and regard former Emperor Haile Selassie I as a messiah.
15. Unique timekeeping: Ethiopians measure time differently. The Ethiopian day begins at dawn (about 6 a.m. according to the Western clock), and time is calculated differently, with 1 p.m. corresponding to 7 a.m. and so on.
16. Jena Festival: Jena or Ethiopian Christmas is celebrated on January 7 according to the Ethiopian calendar and is a major religious and cultural festival in the country.
17. Rich Music and Dance Traditions: Ethiopia has a rich tradition of music and dance, with diverse styles influenced by different ethnic groups. This popular Ethiopian music genre, known as Ethio-jazz, combines traditional Ethiopian music with influences of jazz, funk and soul.
Source: websites