Zulu calendar

The Zulu calendar is the traditional lunar calendar used by the Zulu people of South Africa. Its new year begins at the new moon of July in the Gregorian calendar.

Months

Month	Zulu name	extra notes
August	uNcwaba (glossy)	New grass after veld-burning
September	uMandulo (cultivation)	Start of the farming season. Formerly known as uMpandu, but its name was changed to uMandulo out of respect for King Mpande.
October	uMfumfu (emerging)	May refer to the blooming of flowers, or the growth of maize and sorghum.
November	uLwezi (a species of froghopper)	This is because of the influx of insects that feast on spring leaves
December	uZibandlela (ignore the path)	May refer to grass growing over the roads and confusing travelers.
January	uMasingana (let us search)	May refer to searching for ripening crops or pumpkins.
February	uNhlolanja (inspecting dogs)	This is when dogs begin mating, and owners inspect which dogs they had copulated with.
March	uNdasa (well-fed)	This is when food is more abundant.
April	uMbasa (sweeping the threshing grounds)	This is when cattle are satiated, lying down in the ground and appearing sick.
May	uNhlaba (aloe plant)	This is when the aloe plants start to bloom.
June	uNhlangulana (scattering)	This is when winds blow leaves off trees and the ground.
July	uNtulikazi/uMaquba (with dusts)	This is the month when the winds blow up dust.

Festivals

• Umkhosi Wokweshwama
• Umkhosi woMhlanga
• uMathayi Marula Festival - In Umkhanyakude District, the Thembe clan harvests the marula fruit. Older women from the clan deliver their crops to their chief.

See also

• Xhosa calendar
• Akan calendar
• Igbo calendar
• Yoruba calendar