Ethiopia celebrates the year 2000

Ethiopia finalises preparations to celebrate the new millenium - seven years later than the rest of the world. On 12th September 2007, Ethiopia will finally enter the new millennium, celebrating with a huge New Year’s Eve concert in Addis Ababa. The country follows the Julian calendar, an ancient system of measuring time that was abandoned by the West in the 16th century and is more than seven years behind the Gregorian calendar followed by the rest of the world.

A year’s worth of festivities have been organised to mark the turn of the millennium by a specially-appointed secretariat, including a ten-hour New Year’s Eve concert in the capital, two documentary films, various sporting activities, tree-planting initiatives and the creation of new museums and parks.

Other events planned for the forthcoming year include a 10 km Millennium Race led by legendary long-distance runner Haile Gebrselassie, the unveiling of 11 new national monuments, and a new coffee museum in Bongo, where the Arabica coffee variety originated.

The African Union has decided to adopt the Ethiopian millennium as the official African Millennium, in recognition of the country’s unique history and culture. Ethiopia’s president Girma Woldegirogis has billed the celebrations an opportunity to unite the nation in its focus on fighting poverty and advancing democracy in Ethiopia.

Africa specialist Cox & Kings offers an 11-night Ethiopian Odyssey tour that combines three nights in Addis Ababa with the rock-hewn churches of Lalibela, Gondar in the Simien Mountains, and Bahar Dar. The discovery tour costs from £1,945 per person including flights with Ethiopian Airlines, 11 nights’ full board accommodation, transfers and all excursions.

For more information, log on to Coxandkings.co.uk.