Seasons of Ethiopia

The seasons of Ethiopia are changing often and can be very unique to this country.  Ethiopia is located just above the equator; so when it gets hot, it can get very hot.  In a sense, the seasons in Ethiopia are similar to those in America but are flipped.  For example, during the “winter” months when it is cold, rainy, and snowy in the states, it can be very hot, dry, and dusty in Ethiopia.

Here is what the four seasons are called in Ethiopia:

Kiremt – the rainy season

Belg - the hot, dry season (there is some rain)

Bega – the very hot season

S’edey- there is some rain and it is very green

During January and February, we experience bega.  I first arrived in Ethiopia beginning of February, so the end of the very hot season was what I first experienced.  Also, the Ethiopian holiday called T’imkat (Ethiopian Epiphany) is during January.  March through May is belg.  My pre-service training was during these months.  It was fairly hot and dry majority of training.  Towards the end of training, we did have a few rainy days.  In regards to holidays, Easter occurs during this period of time in April.  As a side note, Easter is called Fasika in Ethiopia.  

June through August (and also the 13^th month of the Ethiopian calendar) fall during the kiremt season.  These few months were the first few months that I was living at site.  Kiremt is the rainy season, so my first few months at site could be a bit gloomy at times.  It was interesting to experience the cold and rainy season during this time of the year because I am used to the hot weather that we have in the states during these months.

During the months of September through December is the S’edey season.  I think what I have struggled the most during this season is that it is the holiday season with Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years (as well as other holidays) and I generally associate this time of the year with cold weather, rain, and snow.  There are quite a few holidays that occur during this season.  The Ethiopian New Year occurs between the 13^th month of the Ethiopian calendar and September.  There is also Meskal (finding of the true cross) and Genna (Christmas).  As a side note, some of these holidays such as the Ethiopian Christmas fall on a different day than when we celebrate Christmas.  Although the Ethiopian Christmas falls during December of the Ethiopian calendar, to falls during January of the Georgian calendar.

Now, time for a language lesson!  For those of you who are curious about what the months are called in Amharic, here is a list below:

September - Meskerem

October – T’imk’imt

November - Hidar

December – Tahisas

January – T’ir

February - Yekatit

March - Megabit

April - Miyaziya

May - Ginbot

June - Sene

July - Hamle

August - Nehase

The 13^th month – P’agume

With the 13 months of the Ethiopian calendar, it definitely has proven to be a challenge at times to schedule events, activities, etc. with people I work with at times.  They are on a different calendar than I am, so it has proved be very important to make sure that both parties are clear on the day.  I do not have an Ethiopian calendar of my own, so sometimes I have to rely on others to give me the correct corresponding days.  Mixing up days has not seemed to be a problem as of yet.  I have learned though that if something such as the date is mixed up, it is extremely important to be flexible and patient.  Both can be hard to do at times though (I am sure almost any volunteer could agree with that).

Despite how different the seasons and calendar here are in comparison to those in the states, it has been a great experience learning more about the Ethiopian culture, similar holidays, different holidays, etc.  It is something that I may grow accustomed to over my two years of service.  Despite how much I miss the seasons, holidays, and traditions that I have left back in the states, it has been such a good experience living in a country where such things are so different.  It has been amazing learning about and living in a new and different culture and it has allowed me to grow as a person and learn more about myself as well.  As each season of Ethiopia changes over to the next, I change a little as well (and I hope that at the end of my service, it has overall been a good change).

Rainy Season

It can be very pretty as rainy season ends and the dry season begins.