Shona calendar

Days

SundaySvondo
MondayMuvhuro
TuesdayChipiri
WednesdayChitatu
ThursdayChina
FridayChishanu
SaturdayMugovera

Months

The months in Shona are named after relevant events to the Shona. Things involving spiritual activities and agriculture, as well animals and fruits serve as derivatives for month names. For example, November, known as Mbudzi in Shona, means goat. This is a sacred month, many activities such as marriage, eloping, and (kurova makuva) tomb rituals are forbidden; this time is also seen as a time when most goats are pregnant. Therefore, killing goats is seen as taboo during this month. The month of July/Chikunguru is thought to be linked to a wild fruit called nhunguru, which flourishes in this wintry month when tree leaves are also reddish in colour, so one might not even see nhunguru fruits easily. Another example would be August, known as Nyamavhuvhu, meaning the windy one, as this is the windiest month of the year.

EnglishShonaMeaning
JanuaryNdiraNdira beetle
FebruaryKukadzi
MarchKurume
AprilKubvumbiMonth of showers
MayChivabvuLast green maize
JuneChikumi
JulyChikunguruNhunguru fruit
AugustNyamavhuvhuThe windy one
SeptemberGunyanaSlow month
OctoberGumiguruTenth month
NovemberMbudziGoat month
DecemberZvitaThanks month

See also

References

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