Borana calendar
The Borana calendar is a
Structure
A lunar-stellar calendar, the
Borana Calendar relies on astronomical observations of the moon in conjunction with seven particular stars or constellations. Borana months (Stars/Lunar Phases) are Bittottessa (Triangulum), Camsa (Pleiades), Bufa (Aldebaran), Waxabajjii (Bellatrix), Obora Gudda (Central Orion-Saiph), Obora Dikka (Sirius), Birra (full moon), Cikawa (gibbous moon), Sadasaa (quarter moon), Abrasa (large crescent), Ammaji (medium crescent), and Gurrandala (small crescent).[2][3]
There are 27 names of days of a month. Hence, first two or three days are used twice at the beginning and end of a month.
1. Bita Kara | 10. Gidada | 19. Adula Ballo |
2. Bita Lama | 11. Walla | 20. Maganatti Jarra |
3. Gardaduma | 12. Ruda | 21. Maganatti Britti |
4. Sonsa | 13. Basa Dura | 22. Garba Dura |
5. Sorsa | 14. Basa Ballo | 23. Garba Balla |
6. Rurruma | 15. Areri Dura | 24. Salban Dura |
7. Algajima | 16. Areri Ballo | 25. Salban Balla |
8. Lumasa | 17. Carra | 26. Salban Dullacha |
9. Arb | 18. Adula Dura | 27. Garda Dullacha |
Months can be identified by moon phase in relation to seven stars or star groups. They star groups are Triangulum (called Lami by Borana), Pleiades (called Busan by Borana), Aldebaran (called Bakkalcha by Borana), Bellatrix (called Algajima by Borana), central Orion (called Arb Gaddu by Borana), Saiph (called Urji Walla by Borana), and Sirius (called Basa by Borana) star systems.
Month name | Star group | Borana name
for star group |
---|---|---|
1. Bittottessa | Triangulum | Lami |
2. Camsa | Pleiades | Busan |
3. Bufa | Aldebaran | Bakkalcha |
4. Wacabajjii | Belletrix | Algajima |
5. Obora Gudda | Central Orion-Saiph | Arb Gaddu |
6. Obora Dikka | Sirius | Basa |
7. Birra | full moon | |
8. Cikawa | gibbous moon | |
9. Sadasaa | quarter moon | |
10. Abrasa | large crescent | |
11. Ammaji | medium crescent | |
12. Gurrandala | small crescent |
The first day of the new year in
See also
- Namoratunga
References
- ISBN 978-1851094776. Retrieved 1 December 2016.
- ^ a b Doyle, Laurance R. The Borana Calendar REINTERPRETED. Current Anthropology. Physics and Astronomy Department, University of California, Santa Cruz, at NASA Ames Research Center, Space Sciences Division, M.S., retrieved 7 April 2010.
- ^ a b c Asmarom Legesse. Gada Three Approaches to the Study of African Society. The Free Press A Division of McMillan Co. Inc, 1973
- ^ Laurance R. Doyle. Ancient African Skies. The SETI Institute, 7 April 2005; retrieved 28 September 2014