In this article, we will explore and analyze the impact of Xhosa calendar in various contexts and situations. Xhosa calendar is a topic of great relevance and interest to many people today, since its influence covers areas as diverse as daily life, culture, history, science, technology, politics and much more. From its emergence to its evolution today, Xhosa calendar has left a deep mark on the world, generating debates, reflections and significant changes in different areas. Throughout this article, we will closely examine the different aspects that make Xhosa calendar a fascinating and important topic, as well as its implications in the contemporary world.
This article appears to be a dictionary definition. (May 2023) |
The following is a list of timekeeping terminology in the isiXhosa language.
The traditional isiXhosa names for months of the year poetically come from names of stars, plants, and flowers that grow or seasonal changes that happen at a given time of year in Southern Africa.
The Xhosa year traditionally begins in June and ends in May when the brightest star visible in the Southern Hemisphere, Canopus, signals the time for harvesting.
In urban areas today, anglicized versions of the months are used, especially by the younger generation, but in the rural areas of the Eastern Cape, the old names still stand.
Month by month they are, in relation with:
English | IsiXhosa | Explanation of the months |
---|---|---|
January | EyoMqungu | month of the tambuki grass |
February | EyoMdumba | month of the swelling grain |
March | EyoKwindla | month of the first fruits |
April | UTshazimpunzi | month of the withering pumpkins |
May | UCanzibe / EyeCanzibe | month of Canopus |
June | EyeSilimela | month of the Pleiades |
July | EyeKhala / EyeNtlaba | month of the aloes |
August | EyeThupha | month of the buds |
September | EyoMsintsi | month of the coast coral tree |
October | EyeDwarha | month of the lilypad or yet tall yellow daisies |
November | EyeNkanga | month of the small yellow daisies |
December | EyoMnga | month of the acacia thorn tree |