Tid Bits About Ethiopia

A few interesting things we've learned along the way...

• Population: Approximately 85 Million
• Capital: Addis Ababa
• The official language is Amharic; however there are 70+ languages spoken.
• Ethiopia is almost twice the size of Texas.
• Ethiopia is a beautiful country with varied climates and terrain.
• Ethiopia is the oldest independent country in Africa, and one of the oldest in the world.History recorded back to 1000BC.
• Ethiopia is the birthplace of coffee and they have official coffee ceremonies in the home. If you are offered coffee, it is polite to drink it. (um… sorry Josh)
• Often women feed the men with their fingers as a mark of love and devotion to them. This is sometimes also done with guests of honor.
• There are 13 months in the Ethiopian Calendar. Each month has 30 days and the last month has only 5 or 6. New Year is celebrated on September 11th and they are almost eight years behind our western calendar.
• A “traditional” rural Ethiopian home is a round hut called a Tukul. The floor is dirt, the walls are either sticks and/or mud, and the roof is made out of a long grass called Tef.
• Traditionally, parents and children do not share a last name. Most kids take their father’s first name as their last name.
• As part of the geologically active Great Rift Valley, Ethiopia is susceptible to earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and frequent droughts.
• Ethiopia is an ancient Christian nation. Today Ethiopia is split religiously - most of the Christians live in the highlands, while Muslims and adherents of traditional African religions tend to inhabit the lowlands.
• Ethiopia is first mentioned in Genesis 2:13 as "the land encompassed by the River Gihon, which flowed from the Garden of Eden." Ethiopia is listed over 20 times in the Bible and is also referred to as "Cush."

Ethiopian Coffee Ceremony

Tukul Huts

Ethiopian Market