Bahire Hasab

Bahire Hasab is a traditional Ethiopian Lunar calendar, used mainly for religious purposes and to determine the date for Ethiopian Orthodox Christian holidays and events.

Bahire Hasab follows a different system of timekeeping compared to the Gregorian calendar. It has twelve months of thirty days each and a thirteenth month of five or six days.

Bahire Hasab plays a vital role in determining the dates for important religious events, such as Christmas (Genna) and Easter (Fasika). It is also used for calculating fasting periods like Lent (Abiy Tsom).

The start of each month in Bahire Hasab is traditionally determined by the observation of the moon. The sighting of the new moon marks the beginning of a new month.

Bahire Hasab is primarily followed by the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church. It is also observed by some other Christian communities in Ethiopia, but to a lesser extent.

Timket (Epiphany) and Meskel (The Finding of the True Cross) are two major annual celebrations in Ethiopia that directly relate to Bahire Hasab. These events attract large crowds and involve colorful processions and religious ceremonies.

Although primarily used for religious purposes, Bahire Hasab can occasionally be referenced in various cultural and traditional contexts. However, its primary purpose remains the determination of religious observances.

While the basic structure of the calendar remains the same, there might be slight regional or cultural variations in the names of the months or specific observances within the framework of Bahire Hasab.

Yes, despite the influence of the Western Gregorian calendar, Bahire Hasab continues to hold significant importance in the lives of many Ethiopians, particularly those following the Ethiopian Orthodox Christian faith tradition.

To learn more about Bahire Hasab, individuals can consult Ethiopian Orthodox Church resources, interact with local Ethiopian communities, or explore Ethiopian cultural and religious literature.