In brief
As Ethiopia enters the year 2018 on its distinctive calendar, the nation is alive with celebrations known as Enkutatash. While the country is seven years behind the Western calendar, this New Year’s occasion brings people together for feasting, music, and cultural performances. Vendors flock to markets in Addis Ababa selling traditional items, while families prepare festive dishes that emphasize unity and renewal.
Ethiopia is celebrating the start of its new year - 2018. The country has its own unique calendar, meaning it is seven years behind the Western calendar.
These yellow adey ababa blooms are associated with the celebration. They grow wild around the capital, Addis Ababa, at this time of year. Small bunches have been selling for around 50 Ethiopian birr ($0.35; £0.25).
The seven-year gap comes down to the fact that the birth year of Jesus Christ is calculated differently in Ethiopia. When the Catholic Church amended its calculation in 500 AD, the Ethiopian Orthodox Church did not.
The celebrations - known as Enkutatash - are not tied to the church, and for everyone in the country, it is a time to celebrate. Here vendors in Addis Ababa come in from the countryside to sell adey ababa and also freshly cut grass - both of which are used during traditional coffee ceremonies.
Shopping areas, including the market of Addisu Gebeya, were heaving in Addis Ababa on New Year's Eve, despite the rain - as people rushed to prepare for the celebrations. Families gather for Enkutatash meals, which might include spicy stew made with chicken or even an ox in some cases.
As midnight draws near, crowds fill concert halls and streets to welcome in the new year with music and sparklers, celebrating unity and the promise of renewal as Ethiopia looks ahead.
