As the world gears up to welcome the New Year, many countries will usher in 2025 with festivities. However, not every nation will be joining in the global countdown on December 31. Ethiopia, Nepal, Iran, and Afghanistan will not be observing January 1, 2025, as New Year’s Day due to their unique calendars and cultural traditions.
Ethiopia follows its own calendar system, the Ethiopian calendar, which is based on the ancient Coptic calendar. This calendar is distinct with 13 months—12 months of 30 days and a 13th month, Pagumē, with either five or six days. The Ethiopian New Year, called Enkutatash, is celebrated in September, marking the start of the year. Ethiopia is also about seven to eight years behind the Gregorian calendar, meaning the country will still be in 2017 when the world enters 2025.
Nepal embraces two calendar systems—Vikram Samvat and Nepal Sambat. The Vikram Samvat calendar, which is lunisolar, is approximately 57 years ahead of the Gregorian calendar, making Nepal’s New Year celebrations distinct and occurring at a different time. In addition, the Newar community in Nepal follows the Nepal Sambat, a lunar calendar. The official Nepali New Year, Bisket Jatra, falls in April, leaving January 1 as just another regular day for most people in the country.
Both Iran and Afghanistan observe the Solar Hijri calendar, which begins with the vernal equinox, around March 21. This calendar is one of the most accurate solar systems in the world and marks the Iranian New Year, Nowruz, as a symbol of renewal and the arrival of spring. In both countries, January 1 is not a day of celebration, as their New Year is celebrated with grand customs and rituals in the spring.
While the rest of the world looks forward to ringing in the New Year on January 1, these four nations continue to honor their own unique traditions and calendars, celebrating the passage of time in ways that reflect their rich cultural histories.
