What Is Ethiopia's 13-Month Called? Discover the Calendar That Defies the Norm

Wait—13 months in a year? Seriously?

Yep. Ethiopia has a 13-month calendar, and it's not some fringe system used by a small village somewhere. It’s the official national calendar, used every day across the country—for business, government, schools, you name it.

While most of the world follows the Gregorian calendar (you know, the January-to-December one), Ethiopia uses the Ethiopian calendar, which is rooted in ancient Coptic and Julian systems.

And guess what? Their new year starts in September, not January. Already sounds like a plot twist, right?

So... what is Ethiopia’s 13th month called?

The name of Ethiopia's unique 13th month is Pagumē (sometimes spelled Pagume or ጳጉሜ in Amharic).

How long is Pagumē?

• Pagumē has 5 days in a regular year

• And 6 days in a leap year

It comes right after the 12th month (called Nehase) and just before the Ethiopian New Year, which falls on Meskerem 1st (around September 11th on the Gregorian calendar).

Pagumē is like a bonus month. It wraps up the year, but it’s short and sweet. It’s also a time that feels almost “in between” years—some Ethiopians even consider it a time for cleansing, resets, and quiet reflection.

How is Pagumē used in daily life?

It’s not just symbolic—it’s on the calendar

Businesses, schools, hospitals, and even airlines that operate on Ethiopian time count those Pagumē days like any other. If your birthday falls on one of those 5 or 6 days? Yup, you're a Pagumē baby, and some even say that's kinda special.

There are jokes in Ethiopia about people born in Pagumē having unique luck or being “mystical”—especially those born on the 6th day, which only comes every four years.

I once met a taxi driver in Addis Ababa who proudly told me he was a “sixth-day Pagumē guy,” and he said with a laugh, “I’m rare. Like a full moon on a holiday.”

It helps balance the year

Unlike our 12-month system where some months have 30, some 31, and February’s just... weird, the Ethiopian calendar has 12 months of exactly 30 days, and then Pagumē fills in the leftover days.

It’s super tidy. Like a calendar made by someone who loves clean spreadsheets.

Why does Ethiopia follow a different calendar?

Historical and religious roots

The Ethiopian calendar is based on the ancient Alexandrian calendar, which itself is linked to the Coptic Church. That’s why many Ethiopian holidays, like Christmas (celebrated on January 7th Gregorian), fall on different days than in the West.

And fun fact: the Ethiopian calendar is also 7–8 years behind the Gregorian calendar. So if it's 2025 for us, it's still 2017 or 2018 in Ethiopia (depending on the month). Yup, time travel is real—just go to Addis.

Is Pagumē celebrated in any special way?

Not exactly a holiday month, but...

Pagumē doesn’t have specific national celebrations, but it does feel different. Some schools finish the year just before Pagumē starts. Some businesses do annual reviews. And there’s a general sense of wrapping things up.

Some Ethiopians even use Pagumē to:

• Pay off debts

• Clean their homes

• Visit family

• Set intentions for the New Year

Think of it as Ethiopia’s version of that weird week between Christmas and New Year’s—where no one knows what day it is, but everyone’s reflecting.

Final thoughts: a small month with big meaning

So, what is Ethiopia’s 13-month called? It’s Pagumē—a tiny month with only 5 or 6 days, but it holds real structure and cultural value. It might seem quirky from the outside, but inside Ethiopia, it’s just how life flows.

And honestly? A short reset-month before a new year sounds like something the rest of the world could borrow.

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The predicted height for a female, based on your parents heights, is 155 to 165cm. Most 15 year old girls are nearly done growing. I was too. It's a very normal height for a girl.

Is 160 cm too tall for a 12 year old?

How Tall Should a 12 Year Old Be? We can only speak to national average heights here in North America, whereby, a 12 year old girl would be between 137 cm to 162 cm tall (4-1/2 to 5-1/3 feet). A 12 year old boy should be between 137 cm to 160 cm tall (4-1/2 to 5-1/4 feet).

How tall is a average 15 year old?

Average Height to Weight for Teenage Boys - 13 to 20 Years

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Staying physically active is even more essential from childhood to grow and improve overall health. But taking it up even in adulthood can help you add a few inches to your height. Strength-building exercises, yoga, jumping rope, and biking all can help to increase your flexibility and grow a few inches taller.

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Generally speaking, the average height for 15 year olds girls is 62.9 inches (or 159.7 cm). On the other hand, teen boys at the age of 15 have a much higher average height, which is 67.0 inches (or 170.1 cm).

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Most girls stop growing taller by age 14 or 15. However, after their early teenage growth spurt, boys continue gaining height at a gradual pace until around 18. Note that some kids will stop growing earlier and others may keep growing a year or two more.

Can you grow 1 cm after 17?

Even with a healthy diet, most people's height won't increase after age 18 to 20. The graph below shows the rate of growth from birth to age 20. As you can see, the growth lines fall to zero between ages 18 and 20 ( 7 , 8 ). The reason why your height stops increasing is your bones, specifically your growth plates.