A REMINDER AND SOME FACTS ABOUT MEASURING TIME

Definition of a day: when earth makes a complete spin on its own axis, we get one day followed by one night. You can check with NASA (The National Aeronautics and Space Administration) or look back in your own memory and perhaps you will agree with me that this measurement of what we call a day, is universal with two caveats and is counted as a 24 hour period. If you are not sure then Relax and learn.

TELLING TIME CLOSER TO THE EQUATOR The first caveat is that there are several nations on the African continent, and in particular the East Africans, who tell the time using a 12 hour clock. The first hour of a new day starts not at one second past 12 midnight, but at 6am the following day at sunrise. This way of telling time is easier for those living in locations where the hours of sunlight during a day, remains almost constant throughout the year.

TELLING TIME CLOSER TO THE POLES Those of us who live in locations further away from the equator, experience fluctuations of sunlight and the further north or south you go, these fluctuations become extreme. For example those living in locations on the equator will experience approximately 12 hours of sunlight all year. Those living at or close to the poles will experience the midnight sun in summer (almost 24 hours of daylight) and the polar night in winter (almost 24 hours of night).

TIME GOING EAST TIME GOING WEST The second caveat to consider is that the imaginary lines of longitude on our globe demarcates time, depending on where you are located on earth. For example, using Cairo in present day Egypt as the centre of the earth, if you travel westward you lose time: the reverse is the case if you travel east.

Definition of a week: when a number of days are grouped together to make a standard measurement, which is repeated ad infinitum, we call this a week. This measurement can be as many or as few days as dictated by the traditions of a particular nation.

Definition of a month: the measurement of the passage of time using the lunar cycle. In this respect, strictly speaking, the Ethiopian calendar is not really 13 months but 12 months plus 5 holy days or 5 days of celebrations.

Definition of a year: when the passing of time is measured using the orbit of the earth making one complete cycle around the sun. There are many different measurements which are referred to as a year, so depending on your culture and traditions you could be a head of the Western calendar or behind it. The measurement of a year is not universal. See a link to a previous post here.  Indeed, every one who is born on earth has their own annual solar return earth day celebrations or not depending on the individuals culture and traditions.

Change is the only constant and measuring our time using two extra terrestrials, plus a third category called ‘stars’, is one explanation of the term As Above So Below! Furthermore, it is widely acknowledged that the first calendar was created by the African nations who lived along the Nile Valley, several millennia ago. It has since been duplicated in part and or modified by successive civilisations, in particular the Greeks and the Romans. Ethiopia is part of the Nile Valley civilisation and the Ethiopian calendar has kept the thirteen month format and is the closest to the original in terms of this fact.

Cepheus on The Rise: In a recent post the final book of fables of 2018 was published as part of the Amunet’s Fables Series: The title is Cepheus on the rise. Cepheus in Greek mythology is the Ethiopian King and the constellation is named after him.  See a link here.

It only remains for us to wish all of of our readers a successful and joyful 2011 and beyond.

Sponsored By Amunet’s Fables

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