VOA常速英语2007-Ethiopia Celebrates New Millennium, Unique Cultu

By Cathy Majtenyi
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
25 October 2007
 
In September 2007 Western time, Ethiopians rang in their new millennium¹, seven-and-a-half years after the rest of the world. Ethiopia's unique way of measuring time is part of the country's rich religious and cultural heritage, evident in many sites throughout the land. Cathy Majtenyi visited Ethiopia and files this report on the passage of time.

Ethiopia officially entered the year 2000 at the stroke of midnight on September 12th. In the capital, Addis Ababa, the last hours of 1999 Ethiopian time included cultural dancing and a concert by the American hip² hop³ group, the Black Eyed Peas.

Others chose to greet the early hours of the new millennium in a more solemn manner.

The fact that Ethiopia is the last country on earth to ring in the new millennium arises from its Orthodox Christian⁴ calendar, which the entire country follows. The calendar is based on Holy Scripture⁵ and is closest to the Jewish calendar.

An Ethiopian year is divided into 12 months consisting of 30 days each. And there is an additional month -- called Pagume -- consisting of five days, or six if it is a leap year.

To avoid confusion between Ethiopian and Western time, all calendars in Ethiopia list dates of both calendars simultaneously⁶, so people can easily "translate" the time when dealing⁷ with the outside world.

The West used to follow the same calendar as Ethiopia, but switched over to the Gregorian calendar in 1582, Western time.

Abuna Paulos I is patriarch of the Ethiopian Orthodox Christian Church. He explains why Ethiopia follows its unique calendar. "It's also quite special manner for Ethiopians to remain loyal to what they were given in the very beginning."

The patriarch explains that the new millennium gives the world a chance to appreciate Ethiopia's rich history. The magnificence of the past is evident in many areas of Ethiopia.

Among the most famous historical sites of the past millennium are the 11 rock-hewn churches of Lalibela. UNESCO considers the area a World Heritage Site.

In the historic town of Gondar are grand castles, the first built by King Alem-Seghed Fasilades in 1632 Western time.

Tekle Mitiku is the head of Gondar City's Culture, Tourism, Labor⁸ and Social Affairs office. He says the construction of the Gondar castles has a lot to teach Ethiopians. "We all have to make our contribution. Our fathers did their part. This is a very good example for the new generation."

The islands of Lake Tana in Bahar Dar are home to more than a dozen monasteries⁹, mostly built from the 13th to the 15th centuries.

One such monastery¹⁰ is Ura Kidane Mehret constructed in 1410 Western time and housing stunning¹¹ paintings of the life of Jesus.

As they celebrate the coming of the next thousand years, many Ethiopians look back on the last millennium with pride and vow¹² to continue to achieve great things in times to come.

1 millennium   

n.一千年，千禧年；太平盛世

参考例句：

• The whole world was counting down to the new millennium.全世界都在倒计时迎接新千年的到来。
• We waited as the clock ticked away the last few seconds of the old millennium.我们静候着时钟滴答走过千年的最后几秒钟。

2 hip   

n.臀部，髋；屋脊

参考例句：

• The thigh bone is connected to the hip bone.股骨连着髋骨。
• The new coats blouse gracefully above the hip line.新外套在臀围线上优美地打着褶皱。

3 hop   

n.单脚跳，跳跃；vi.单脚跳，跳跃；着手做某事；vt.跳跃，跃过

参考例句：

• The children had a competition to see who could hop the fastest.孩子们举行比赛，看谁单足跳跃最快。
• How long can you hop on your right foot?你用右脚能跳多远？

4 Christian   

adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒

参考例句：

• They always addressed each other by their Christian name.他们总是以教名互相称呼。
• His mother is a sincere Christian.他母亲是个虔诚的基督教徒。

5 scripture   

n.经文，圣书，手稿；Scripture:(常用复数)《圣经》，《圣经》中的一段

参考例句：

• The scripture states that God did not want us to be alone.圣经指出上帝并不是想让我们独身一人生活。
• They invoked Hindu scripture to justify their position.他们援引印度教的经文为他们的立场辩护。

6 simultaneously   

adv.同时发生地，同时进行地

参考例句：

• The radar beam can track a number of targets almost simultaneously.雷达波几乎可以同时追着多个目标。
• The Windows allow a computer user to execute multiple programs simultaneously.Windows允许计算机用户同时运行多个程序。

7 dealing   

n.经商方法，待人态度

参考例句：

• This store has an excellent reputation for fair dealing.该商店因买卖公道而享有极高的声誉。
• His fair dealing earned our confidence.他的诚实的行为获得我们的信任。

8 labor   

n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦

参考例句：

• We are never late in satisfying him for his labor.我们从不延误付给他劳动报酬。
• He was completely spent after two weeks of hard labor.艰苦劳动两周后，他已经疲惫不堪了。

9 monasteries   

修道院( monastery的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• In ancient China, there were lots of monasteries. 在古时候，中国有许多寺院。
• The Negev became a religious center with many monasteries and churches. 内格夫成为许多庙宇和教堂的宗教中心。

10 monastery   

n.修道院，僧院，寺院

参考例句：

• They found an icon in the monastery.他们在修道院中发现了一个圣像。
• She was appointed the superior of the monastery two years ago.两年前她被任命为这个修道院的院长。

11 stunning   

adj.极好的；使人晕倒的

参考例句：

• His plays are distinguished only by their stunning mediocrity.他的戏剧与众不同之处就是平凡得出奇。
• The finished effect was absolutely stunning.完工后的效果非常美。

12 vow   

n.誓(言)，誓约；v.起誓，立誓

参考例句：

• My parents are under a vow to go to church every Sunday.我父母许愿，每星期日都去做礼拜。
• I am under a vow to drink no wine.我已立誓戒酒。