The Xhosa months of the year are poetically named after stars and seasonal plants of Southern Africa.
The Xhosa year traditionally began in June and ended in May, when Canopus, the brightest star visible in the Southern Hemisphere, signalled the time for harvesting.
In urban areas today, anglicised versions of the months are used, especially by the younger generation. But in the rural areas of the Eastern Cape – the old names still stand.
January - EyoMqungu (month of the Tambuki Grass)
February - EyoMdumba (month of the swelling grain)
March - EyoKwindla (month of the first fruits)
April - uTshaz'iimpuzi (month of the withering pumpkins)
May - EyeCanzibe (month of Canopus)
June - EyeSilimela (month of the Pleiades)
July - EyeKhala (month of the aloes)
August - EyeThupha (month of the buds)
September - EyoMsintsi (month of the coast coral tree)
October - EyeDwarha (month of the tall yellow daisies)
November - EyeNkanga (month of the small yellow daisies)
December - EyoMnga - (month of the mimosa thorn tree)
Sat, 2007-06-09 09:45 | 
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The Shifting Stars
While some cultures used equinoxes and solstices as their main calendar markers, some used helical rises of stars. It seems that all cultures knew about both, its just that one particular marker was used more than others were. For example, the Greek and Roman cultures used the spring equinox as the start of their new year, while the New Zealand Māori used the helical rise of the Pleiades, known to them as Matariki.
(from The Shifting Stars - Astronomy In Your Hands website.)
Pleiades
‘Pleiades’ comes from the Greek word ‘Pleios’, to sail. Apparently the rising of the Pleiades signified the start of the season for safe sailing weather in classical Greece.
Astronomical info
Winter - Looking out through the spiral arms of the Milky Way galaxy we see Orion the Hunter chasing Taurus the Bull. On Orion's shoulder we see Betelgeuse, a red giant dying star that is expanding out before it collapses. In Orion's belt is the Orion Nebula, and the nearby Horsehead nebula where stars are being created by gravity from dust and gasses. On Taurus's shoulder is the Pleiades (also called Subaru or Seven Sisters) a young cluster of stars.
http://www.physics.louisville.edu/astro/students/107-01/topics/constella...
This is cool I fall under the
This is cool I fall under the month of ngeyomQungu
Nathan
wOw
Nice, thanks
Cool article :)
Queen
Hi. Astronomy is my hobby. I like to look at the starry sky, this spectacle I enjoy.
1 word awesome
1 word awesome