Welcome to Ethiopia, a country that’s as diverse as it is captivating! Located in the Horn of Africa, Ethiopia is a land of ancient history, stunning landscapes, and a rich cultural heritage that’s sure to fascinate any traveler. From the rugged Simien Mountains to the lush coffee plantations that cover the highlands, Ethiopia is a country that’s full of surprises. And with a cuisine that’s packed with bold flavors and unique spices, there’s no shortage of delicious dishes to try. Join us as we explore the top Ethiopian facts that will leave you amazed and inspired to plan your next adventure to this incredible country. Get ready to fall in love with Ethiopia!
1-5 Amazing Facts About Ethiopia
1. Ethiopians can’t enjoy the best coffee in their country due to government restrictions on selling high-quality beans domestically. Only lower-quality beans are permitted to be sold on the domestic market by the government to promote exports.
2. Electricity was introduced to Ethiopia in 1896 after Emperor Menelik II ordered electric chairs for capital punishment but realized they were useless without electricity.
3. Drunk driving may be legal in Ethiopia, but that doesn’t mean it’s a good idea. Just imagine driving on a road full of tipsy tuk-tuks!
4. Lalibela, Ethiopia, is home to 11 monolithic churches carved out of mountains and connected by tunnels.
5. Ethiopia’s history is remarkable – they managed to avoid colonization when the rest of Africa was being carved up like a Thanksgiving turkey.
6-10 Fun Facts About Ethiopia
6. Using Skype in Ethiopia can lead to a 15-year jail sentence.
7. Ethiopia has the oldest complete Christian Bible. It’s so old that it probably knew Jesus before he was famous 🙂
8. Ethiopians use a 12-hour clock instead of a 24-hour one and have no plans to change it.
9. Nearly half of Ethiopia’s population is under 15 years old.
10. Ethiopia has a celebrity chef who’s on a mission to combat hunger by getting people to eat more diverse foods. Move over, Gordon Ramsay – this chef’s got bigger fish to fry!
11-15 Insane Facts About Ethiopia
11. Ethiopia adopted Christianity as its state religion before Rome did.
12. Moreover, Ethiopia was the first country to accept Islam as a religion. It’s like Ethiopia is the cool kid in class who knew all the answers before everyone else did.
13. Italians killed 7% of Ethiopia’s population between 1936-1941.
14. Ethiopia comes from the Greek term for dark-skinned people, meaning ‘burnt face.’
15. Nestlé, the world’s largest food company, has a dark history in Ethiopia – from demanding money during a famine to allegedly using child slave labor.
16-20 Interesting Facts About Ethiopia
16. In certain Ethiopian monasteries and sacred locations, ancient laws still prohibit women from entering the holy grounds. Interestingly, this prohibition extends not only to human females but also to female animals such as hens, donkeys, and nanny goats.
17. Ethiopia follows its calendar. It consists of thirteen months a year, with the final month having five days (or six in a leap year). As a result, the Ethiopian calendar is at least seven to eight years behind the calendar used in many other parts of the world. For example, if it’s currently 2022 in other parts of the world, Ethiopia may be in 2015. Visitors to Ethiopia may feel like they’ve traveled back in time.
18. Ethiopia boasts nine UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
19. Stick fighting is a popular sport in Southern Ethiopia, often used to assess the strength, skill, and coordination of men. Winners of these competitions earn potential wives, and the fighting season dedicated to this sport typically lasts about three months. Men from different villages compete, aiming to knock out their opponents while avoiding getting knocked out themselves.
20. Buhe is Ethiopia’s version of Halloween, celebrated annually on August 19th. Boys gather in groups and travel from one house to another singing until the homeowners give them bread.
That’s it for this post guys, I hope you had fun while reading 20 Interesting Ethiopia Facts For Kids.
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