Shona calendar

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Days[]

Sunday Svondo
Monday Muvhuro
Tuesday Chipiri
Wednesday Chitatu
Thursday China
Friday Chishanu
Saturday Mugovera

Months[]

The months in Shona are named after relevant events to the Shona. Things involving spiritual activities, agriculture as well animals and fruits serve as derivatives for month names. For example the month 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 were 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 - as such you 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.

English Shona Meaning
January Ndira Ndira Beetle
February Kukadzi
March Kurume
April Kubvumbi Month of Showers
May Chivabvu Last Green Maize
June Chikumi
July Chikunguru Nhunguru Fruit
August Nyamavhuvhu The Windy One
September Gunyana Slow Month
October Gumiguru Tenth Month
November Mbudzi Goat Month
December Zvita Thanks Month

See also[]

References[]

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