Festivals & Events

1. Umuganuro

   Umuganuro (harvest festival)

   Usage

   A yearly ceremony in which the king blessed the new harvest; it is still spoken of as part of Burundian heritage

   Grammar Note

   umuganuro is the title of an rn.wikipedia article, which describes it as the day of eating the year

2. Umuganuro wahimbazwa mu kwezi kwa kigarama

   The Umuganuro used to be celebrated in the month of Kigarama

   Usage

   Used when explaining the heritage; kigarama is the name of the month that falls in December

   Grammar Note

   wahimbazwa is a past passive, was celebrated; this wording is in the rn.wikipedia article on Umuganuro

3. Ukwezi kwa kigarama

   The month of Kigarama (December)

   Usage

   The last month of the year, long seen as a time of celebration and rest

   Grammar Note

   ukwezi is month and kwa is of; kigarama comes from the verb kugarama, to rest

4. Noheli

   Christmas

   Usage

   A major holiday on 25 December in Burundi, where most people are Christian

   Grammar Note

   noheli is confirmed in the Matana dictionary and rn.wikipedia; it comes from French Noël

5. Noheli nziza

   Merry Christmas

   Usage

   A Christmas greeting; nziza is good, in the form agreeing with noheli

   Grammar Note

   nziza is good in the n- class, the same class as inzu (house). Composed from dictionary-verified words

6. Pasika

   Easter

   Usage

   A major Christian holiday

   Grammar Note

   pasika is confirmed in the Matana dictionary

7. Umwaka mushasha mwiza

   Happy New Year

   Usage

   A New Year greeting for the turn of the year

   Grammar Note

   umwaka is year; mushasha (new) and mwiza (good) agree with umwaka. Composed from dictionary-verified words

8. Umunsi w'ubwigenge

   Independence Day

   Usage

   Burundi became independent on 1 July 1962, and the day is a national holiday

   Grammar Note

   umunsi is day, w' is of and ubwigenge is independence. Composed from dictionary-verified words

9. Ku wa kane uza ni umunsi mukuru

   Next Thursday is a holiday

   Usage

   For talking about a holiday; a sentence found in Tatoeba

   Grammar Note

   ku wa kane is Thursday, uza is coming (so next) and umunsi mukuru is holiday

10. Gutaha ubukwe

    To attend a wedding feast

    Usage

    For talking about going to a wedding you were invited to

    Grammar Note

    gutaha ubukwe is the phrase listed under ubukwe in the Matana dictionary (to go to a wedding feast)

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