Where they'll be dancing in the streets on 9/11

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September 11 will be marked by a huge celebration this year—in Ethiopia at least. At the stroke of midnight, Ethiopia will enter into its "new millennium." Following the Ethiopian Orthodox Church's calendar, which is between seven and right years behind the Gregorian calendar due to an arcane dispute with the Roman Catholic Church*, Ethiopia will welcome the first day of the third millennium on September 12. So what's in store for Ethiopia's teeming masses? A year-long period of celebration that will include a procession and parade, sporting activities, exhibitions, galas and parties, and a whole lot of singing and dancing. Many of the festivities will take place in Ethiopia's capital, Addis Ababa, according to What's up Addis! and Ethiopia 2000.

But it's not all about frivolous fun. The theme of the millennium is "hope, dedication, progress and prosperity for all Africans," and a special "Buy Ethiopian" theme will be launched. In what is the world's second-oldest Christian country, religious festivals will also take on new meaning. Plus, money raised at special events will be used to fund new schools and health centers in the hopes that Ethiopia really will see the dawn of a new era. With Beyoncé set to perform at the Millennium Eve Concert in Addis Abbaba on September 11, how can these efforts fail?

*Note: This post originally referenced the Julian calendar, which is not the correct name for the calendar used by the Ethiopian Orthodox Church.