Zulu Calendar

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Monday is Umsombuluko in Zulu, which means the opening of the week.

We know about the Lunar Calendar in China and Hindu Calendar in India, but there are many more we are not aware of.  

Ama-Zulu, the nation whose umbilical cord is buried south of the country known as South Africa, have their own days of the week.

ZULU

ENGLISH

Umsombuluko

Monday.

Lwe-sibili.

Tuesday, which means second day of the week.

Lwe-sithathu.

Wednesday, third day of the week.

Lwe-sine.

Thursday, fourth day of the week.

Lwe-sihlanu.

Friday, fifth day of the week.

U-mgqibelo.

Saturday.

Isonto.

Sunday.


We don’t like Monday, because it’s back to work, to reality after a lazy weekend. That’s why someone coined the term ‘blue Monday’.

Monday is Umsombuluko in Zulu. It means the re-opening of something, slowly unfolding, like a bud opening into a flower. It’s amazing when toddlers do that, showing their potential.

Once everything is open on Monday, the Zulu calendar starts counting the days, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.

Saturday umgqibelo is related to the land. Original ama-Zulu were farmers. To bury something in the soil is ‘gqiba’. You cannot say it because there’s nothing remotely similar to double consonants in English.

Saturday is named after a farming process to describe the end of the week, when work is done, everything laid to rest. How about seasons? What are they called?

Another time. Another blog.

By: Nonqaba waka Msimang.

 

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