December is Kesikewiku's (pronounced guess-see-gew- we- goose), which is the winter month. The winter season is known as Kesik (pronounced guess-igk). In the month of December, we celebrate the Christmas holiday. We can greet our friends and family using greetings in Mi’kmaw. When greeting someone, we can say “Wli Nipi Alasutma” (prounounced well-ee nib-ee ah-la-sue-dah-mah) or we can also say Wli Nuelewi (pronounced well-ee new-el-loo-we). This is like the French greeting, “Joyeux Noel”. To wish someone “Happy New Year” in Mi’kmaw, we would say “Pusu’l Puna’ne!” (prounounced boo-sool boo-nah-nay). This is also like the French greeting “Bonne Annee.”
During the holiday season, we can sing Christmas carols. An easy song to sing with your children, or on your own, is “We wish you a Merry Christmas” in the Mi’kmaw language. There are two The first version, “Wli Nipi Alasutma”, is very simple and sung to the tune of the English song “We Wish You a Merry Christmas”.
*Important to note*
1.for the pronounciation break down, please note the “q” sound is guttural, and is represented as “ach” as in the word german word “bach”.
Wli Nipi Alasutma
Wli Nipi Alasutma,
(well-ee nib-ee ah-la-sue-dah-mah)
Wli Nipi Alasutma,
(well-ee nib-ee ah-la-sue-dah-mah)
Wli Nipi Alasutma,
(well-ee nib-ee ah-la-sue-dah-mah)
Aqq Pu’su’l Punane’!
(ach- boo-sool boo-nah-nay)
** audio can be found @ https://www.afnts.ca/album-songs/wli-nipi-alasutma
Brought to you by Indigenous Language and Culture Coordinator Bridget Gloade and Communications.
