Amani na Furaha! Peace and Joy! Talking about the Holiday Season in Swahili

In this post we’ll learn vocabulary and expressions that you can use to talk about the holiday season in Swahili. First we’ll learn holiday greetings that you can use for Christmas and Hanukkah. Then we’ll look at vocabulary that you can use to talk about holiday decorations. After that we’ll learn how to talk about gifts and gift giving in Swahili. Next we’ll learn how to talk about the holiday spirit. Finally, we’ll learn how to wish people a happy new year in Swahili and enjoy the festivities.

If you want to learn about Christmas as well as other Christian and Islamic holidays celebrated in Kenya and Tanzania, check out this post.

Greetings for the Holiday Season in Swahili

The first thing you may want to know how to say is of course Merry Christmas or Happy Hanukkah. Here are some other expressions you can use to wish people well during the holiday season. We’ll come back to Happy New Year in Swahili later.

• Krismasi njema!
  Merry Christmas!
• Heri ya Hanukkah!
  Happy Hanukkah!
• Furahia sikukuu! / Furahieni sikukuu!
  Enjoy the holidays! (to one person/two or more people)

• Je, huwa unasherehekea Krismasi/Hanukkah?
  Do you celebrate Christmas/Hanukkah?
• Furahia kipindi hiki cha mwaka!
  Enjoy this time of year!
• Natumaini utakuwa na Krismasi njema.
  I hope you have a good Christmas.
• Natumaini utawaona marafiki zako na familia yako.
  I hope you see your friends and family.
• Nakutakia amani, afya na furaha.
  I wish you peace, health, and happiness!
• Natumaini utapokea zawadi nyingi.
  I hope you get a lot of presents.

Decorations during the Holiday Season in Swahili

Lots of people put up decorations this time of year, so you may want to say: mti wa Krismasi (Christmas tree), menora (menorah), nyota (star), mshumaa (candle), kengele (bell), taa za rangi mbalimbali (colorful lights), mandhari ya kuzaliwa kwa Yesu (nativity scene), mtoto Yesu (baby Jesus), malaika (angel), mamajusi watatu (three wise men), Santa Claus / Baba Krismasi (Santa Claus), sanamu ya mtu wa theluji (snowman), kulungu wa kaskazini (reindeer).

• Tunaenda kununua mti wa Krismasi wikendi hii.
  We’re going to buy a Christmas tree this weekend.
• Hebu tupambe mti wa Krismasi.
  Let’s decorate the Christmas tree.
• Hebu tuwashe mishumaa ya menora.
  Let’s light the menorah.
• Menora ya Hanukkah ina nafasi tisa za mishumaa.
  A Hanukkah menorah has nine candleholders.
• Kuna taa za rangi mbalimbali kwenye nyumba.
  There are colorful lights on the house.
• Mapambo ya mti wa Krismasi ni mazuri sana.
  The Christmas tree ornaments are beautiful.
• Kila mwaka huwa tunaweka mandhari ya kuzaliwa kwa Yesu.
  We put up a nativity scene every year.
• Familia yangu huweka mapambo ya sikukuu ya Hanukkah.
  My family puts up Hanukkah decorations.

Holiday Gifts

Exchanging presents is of course a big part of the holiday season, so you may want to say: zawadi (gift/present), karatasi ya kufungia zawadi (wrapping paper), kadi (card).

• Ninahitaji kuwanunulia zawadi marafiki na jamaa wengi.
  I have to buy gifts for a lot of friends and relatives.
• Nina zawadi kwa ajili yako.
  I have a present for you.
• Umeniletea nini?
  What did you get for me?
• Fungua zawadi yako.
  Unwrap your present.
• Hii ni zawadi nzuri sana!
  This is a great present!
• Wewe ni mkarimu sana! / Unawajali wengine sana!
  You’re so generous/thoughtful.
• Ninaipenda zawadi yangu.
  I love my present.
• Nilikutengenezea zawadi hii mwenyewe.
  I made this gift for you myself.
• Santa Claus aliacha zawadi chini ya mti wa Krismasi.
  Santa Claus left gifts under the Christmas tree.
• Katika familia yetu, huwa tunapeana zawadi nane wakati wa Hanukkah.
  In our family, we exchange eight gifts during Hanukkah.

The Spirit of the Holiday Season in Swahili

The holiday season means different things to different people.

• Ninapenda kipindi cha sikukuu.
  I love the holiday season.
• Kuna muziki wa Krismasi kila mahali.
  There is Christmas music everywhere.
• Ninatazamia sikukuu kwa hamu.
  I’m looking forward to the holiday.
• Ninapenda Krismasi.
  I love Christmas.
• Nina hamu ya kuwaona watu wa familia yangu wakati wa Hanukkah.
  I’m excited to see my family for Hanukkah.
• Ninatumaini kutakuwa na amani duniani.
  I hope for peace on earth.
• Tunatoa zawadi kwa familia zenye uhitaji.
  We’re donating gifts to families in need.
• Ni muhimu kuwapa chakula watu wenye uhitaji.
  It’s important to give food to people who need it.
• Ninashukuru kuwa na familia yangu na marafiki zangu.
  I’m thankful for my family and friends.

Happy New Year in Swahili

Soon enough, the year will come to an end, and people everywhere will drink a toast to the new year. So you’ll want to know how to wish people a happy new year in Swahili, and how to talk about all of the festivities.

• Je, unaenda kwenye sherehe ya mkesha wa Mwaka Mpya?
  Are you going to a New Year’s Eve party?
• Huwa tunakula chakula kikubwa cha jioni pamoja na familia na marafiki.
  We eat a big dinner with family and friends.
• Ninawaalika marafiki kwenye sherehe.
  I’m inviting friends to a party.
• Heri ya Mwaka Mpya!
  Happy New Year!
• Ni usiku wa manane. Hebu tunywe shampeni!
  It’s midnight, let’s drink champagne!
• Kwa afya yetu!
  Cheers!
• Amani, afya na furaha katika mwaka mpya!
  Peace, health, and happiness in the new year!
• Una maazimio gani ya Mwaka Mpya?
  What are your New Year’s resolutions?
• Ninataka kupunguza uzito katika mwaka mpya.
  I want to lose weight in the new year.
• Ninataka kujifunza lugha mpya mwakani.
  I want to learn a new language in the new year.
• Nakutakia mafanikio makubwa katika mwaka mpya.
  I wish you great success in the new year.
• Natumaini utakuwa na furaha nyingi katika mwaka mpya.
  I hope you are very happy in the new year.

No matter what holiday you celebrate, we wish you great health and happiness, and a very happy new year in Swahili: Heri ya Mwaka Mpya!

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