Xhosa calendar
The following is a list of timekeeping terminology in the xhosa language.
Month names
Traditional
The traditional names for months come from names of plants or flowers that grow or seasonal changes that happen at a given time of year.
They are:
| English | Xhosa | 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 | 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 |
| November | EyeNkanga | month of the small yellow daisies |
| December | EyoMnga | month of the acacia tree |
Gregorian months
The xhosa months of the year are poetically named after stars and seasonal plants of Southern Africa. The xhosa year traditionally began in June and ended in May, when Canopus, the brightest star visible in the southern hemisphere, signalled the time for harvesting. In urban areas today, anglicised 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.
- January - EyoMqungu (month of the Tambuki grass)
- February - EyoMdumba (month of the swelling grain)
- March - EyoKwindla (month of the first fruits)
- April - uTshaz'iimpuzi (month of the withering pumpkins)
- May - EyeCanzibe (month of Canopus)
- June - EyeSilimela (month of the Pleiades)
- July - EyeKhala (month of the aloes)
- August - EyeThupha (month of the buds)
- September - EyoMsintsi (month of the coast coral tree)
- October - EyeDwarha (month of the tall yellow daisies)
- November - EyeNkanga (month of the small yellow daisies)
- December - EyoMnga - (month of the acacia thorn tree)
Days of the week
- Sunday - iCawa
- Monday - uMvulo
- Tuesday - uLwesibini
- Wednesday - uLwesithathu
- Thursday - uLwesine
- Friday - uLwesihlanu
- Saturday - uMgqibelo
Further reading
- Kirsch et al., Clicking with Xhosa, David Phillip Publishers, Cape Town, 2001, p. 43f.
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