All countries have unique things that separate them from the rest and these are some of the new things that you need to know before you visit a country and with Ethiopia and its beautiful landscape and rich history, the culture and traditions that are practiced in the country before you travel to the country it is better to be hands on with all the unique things that you are in the country so that you at least k now about something.
The timing in Ethiopia
Looking at the whole world, it is only Ethiopia that woks on a twelve hour time system that is a day in Ethiopia begins at dawn that is at 6:00am and then ends at dusk that is at 6:00pm. It is very hard to tell how this came about but when you get to country all you need to do is make sure that you adjust your time according to their system so that you are never late for any of the trip destinations that you have in a day.
The calendar in Ethiopia
When it comes to uniqueness, Ethiopia is the master and this also includes the calendar that they use. Ethiopians still use the ancient calendar that was changed by the Romans many centuries ago. When the calendar was changed to the Gregorian the Ethiopians refused to change theirs and that is why they syill use a calendar that works with thirteen months instead of twelve. This calendar has seen many holidays celebrated on different days from the rest of the world and when you visit the country you will be able to notice the difference. You just need to be prepared for the changes in the dates.
Ethiopia is the oldest country in Africa
Ethiopia is the oldest country in Africa with it being discovered in the year 980 BC. The country is connected to some historical figures in the bible like King Solomon and Queen Sheba and that is why it is believed to be the first country in Africa to be discovered and it has also kept its original traditions since time immemorial.
Ethiopia’s population
Ethiopia has quite a large population and the country’s population can only be compared to that of Nigeria. And due to the fact that the country was not colonized by any European country, there is almost no western influence which means that the locals still live according to the traditional ways and in large families and there are over 109 million people in Ethiopia. The population in Ethiopia is filled with different ethnic groups and these have their culture that they exhibit and the beauty about the population in the country is that they live harmoniously together even with the different cultural practices and the largest part of the population does not speak any English.
UNESCO heritage sites
Ethiopia is a home to the about nine UNESCO heritage sites and most of these are cultural sites and this is because the locals that live in the country have managed to keep their history under wraps because of the less European influence. The UNESCO heritage sites that can be in Ethiopia include the Harar city which is the fourth holiest city in the world, the Axum city, the Omo valley, the Simiens National Park, the rock hewn churches in Lalibela, the Konso cultural landscape and many more others.
Coffee in Ethiopia
Coffee is believed to have been discovered first in Ethiopia many years ago. There is a legend that says that there was a herd’s man who was grazing his animals and one of them came back with a weird character and it stayed up almost the whole night. And then a monk went to the forest and came back with strange looking beans that tasted great and shared with the rest of the monks. They threw the beans into fire and later mixed them in water creating a wonderful aroma. When they took the water, they all became way too excited to actually sleep and that is how coffee beans were discovered. There are many coffee farms in Ethiopia that you can visit and these include the Harar coffee farms, the Kafa Biosphere Reserve and the Yirgacheffe coffee farms.
Ethiopia’s Lava Lake
Ethiopia has the longest Lava Lake in the whole world which has been in existence since 1906 and it is found in the Danakil Depression. The Erta Lake flows from the Erta Mountain and it is one of the most active volcanoes both in the country and the rest of the world. It is a bit hard to get access to the Lava Lake due to the high temperatures that can be experienced in the area but you can still admire it from a distance.
The Ark of the Covenant
The Ark of the Covenant is believed to be in one of the churches that are found in the Axum city and the story is that it was brought to the country by King Solomon’s and Queen Sheba’s son Menelik I. they say that Menelik visited his father king Solomon and when he came back to Ethiopia, he came with the Ark of the Covenant which is protected by a priest in the Ark of the Covenant church in Axum. No one is allowed to get close to the church but you can still take photos of the outside of the church from a distance.
The Danakil Depression
The Danakil Depression is the hottest place on earth and this is because of the high temperatures that are faced in the area. You will be shocked to know that there are many locals who have braved this heat and stay in the area but the things that can be seen in the Danakil Depression are enough to make you go there at least for a few days and get to see the Lava lake, the Erta Mountain and its bubbling lava and many more other things.
Abebe Bikila
Abebe Bikila is the first black African who won two medals in two Olympic in a row. He won gold after running barefoot and joining the team that was heading for the Olympics at a last minute after one of the members got an accident. And to know more about the great Olympic medalist, you will need to visit the country and get to know more about this origins.
Addis Ababa
Addis Ababa is the capital city of Ethiopia and it is one of the largest cities on the African continent. Addis Ababa is also the highest city in Africa due to the fact that it is elevated about 2355 meters above sea level and the city is also a home to the African Union headquarters.
The origin of the Rastafarians
It is believed that the Rastafarians who are mainly now found in Jamaica are said to have originated from Ethiopia. The Rastafarians originated from the Amharic people who live in the Axum people who held festivals that brought about the Rastafarian movement. The word Ras refers to a title of chief and the word Tafari was the name of Emperor Haile Selassie and this is how they came about and it was transferred to the rest of the world especially Jamaica.
The festivals in the country
Ethiopia has a lot of festivals that are celebrated on different days and months but when you get to the country you will find out that there is a festival that is celebrated almost every month and these can either be religious festivals from the Orthodox church and Muslims or cultural festivals which are carried out by the different ethnic tribes that are found in the country.
Vegetarian country
Even though meat is a delicacy in the country, vegetables are the most common and that is why it is referred to as the vegetable haven. Due to the strong Orthodox reign in the country meat id forbidden on every Wednesday and Friday and even during the fasting season that leads to the Easter festivals. You will find a lot of vegetables on the market and fresh ones in the market stands.
The Fossils in Ethiopia
The oldest Fossils that are believed to be the oldest in the whole world were found in Ethiopia and the conclusion came about that they were the oldest. The remains were taken to the National museum of Ethiopia in Addis Ababa and they were arranged to form the famous Lucy but besides Lucy there were other fossils that were that were discovered in the Afar region and these are said to be older than Lucy and they are also arranged and placed in the National museum for all to see.
All the facts that come with Ethiopia will help you to get to know more about the country before you go for a visit. Sometimes it is much better to be with a little more knowledge about your destination than to be surprised and that is why facts are important.
