Festivals & Events

1. Tsiku la Khirisimasi

   Christmas Day (25 December)

   Usage

   25 December is a public holiday in Malawi, followed by Boxing Day on the 26th

   Grammar Note

   tsiku is class 5, so "of" is la. Khirisimasi is a class 9 noun (the verb agrees with i-, as in imakondwerera).

2. Khirisimasi yabwino!

   Merry Christmas!

   Usage

   Christmas greeting, literally "good Christmas"

   Grammar Note

   Khirisimasi is class 9, so the adjective -bwino becomes yabwino. A greeting composed from verified words.

3. Isitala

   Easter

   Usage

   Good Friday and Easter Monday are public holidays in Malawi

   Grammar Note

   Easter written in Chichewa sound-spelling; Chichewa Wikipedia has an article under this name.

4. Tsiku la Chaka Chatsopano

   New Year's Day (1 January)

   Usage

   1 January is a public holiday; literally "day of the new year"

   Grammar Note

   chaka is class 7, so the adjective -tsopano becomes chatsopano.

5. Tsiku la Ufulu

   Independence Day (6 July)

   Usage

   Malawi became independent from Britain on 6 July 1964; a public holiday each year

   Grammar Note

   ufulu means "freedom". Composed from dictionary- and source-verified words by regular grammar.

6. Tsiku la John Chilembwe

   John Chilembwe Day (15 January)

   Usage

   Public holiday on 15 January honouring the Reverend who led an early uprising against colonial rule and forced labour

   Grammar Note

   Putting tsiku la before a person's name names a commemoration day. Composed from dictionary- and source-verified words by regular grammar.

7. Tsiku la Amayi

   Mother's Day (15 October)

   Usage

   Malawi's Mother's Day falls on 15 October, which is also World Rural Women's Day, and is a public holiday

   Grammar Note

   amayi is the plural of mayi (mother) and also a respectful term for any mother. Composed from dictionary- and source-verified words by regular grammar.

8. Tsiku la Ogwira Ntchito

   Labour Day (1 May)

   Usage

   1 May is a public holiday; literally "day of the people who do work"

   Grammar Note

   ogwira ntchito, "those who work", is built on kugwira ntchito (to work). Composed from dictionary- and source-verified words by regular grammar.

9. Lero ndi tchuthi cha dziko.

   Today is a national holiday.

   Usage

   Useful for explaining that offices and shops may be closed

   Grammar Note

   tchuthi (holiday) is class 7, so "of" is cha. tchuthi was verified in a Chichewa Wikipedia article. Composed from dictionary- and source-verified words by regular grammar.

10. Mukukondwerera chiyani?

    What are you celebrating?

    Usage

    Asking when you come across a celebration

    Grammar Note

    mu-ku-kondwerera = you (polite plural) + progressive + celebrate. Composed from dictionary- and source-verified words by regular grammar.

11. Phwando limachitika liti?

    When does the festival take place?

    Usage

    Asking when an event is held

    Grammar Note

    phwando is class 5, so the verb takes li-. Composed from dictionary- and source-verified words by regular grammar.

12. Lake of Stars

    Lake of Stars (music festival on the shore of Lake Malawi)

    Usage

    Music festival held on the shore of Lake Malawi; check dates every year, as editions have varied

    Grammar Note

    The festival keeps its English name, taken from a nickname of Lake Malawi.

13. Gule Wamkulu

    Gule Wamkulu (Chewa masked dance)

    Usage

    Masked dance of the Nyau societies, on UNESCO's intangible heritage list; performed at funerals and installations, not a tourist show

    Grammar Note

    wamkulu is the class 1 form of "big, great". Use the name as it is; always ask those around you before taking photographs.

14. Gule Wamkulu ndi chiyani?

    What is Gule Wamkulu?

    Usage

    Asking about a masked dance you come across

    Grammar Note

    "X ndi chiyani?" asks "What is X?". chiyani (what) is a question word verified in lessons.

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