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The Ateso Calendar

The traditional twelve months, their meanings, and the farming year they follow.

  1. Dry Season

    Opoo / Opo

    December

    [O-poo / O-po]

    Month of hunting and trapping

  2. Dry Season

    Orara

    January

    [O-ra-ra]

    Month when trees shed their leaves

  3. Dry Season

    Omuk

    February

    [O-muk]

    Month when leaves grow back / month of covering

  4. Dry Season

    Okwang (Ogwang)

    March

    [O-kwang / O-gwang]

    Windy and dusty month

  5. Wet / Rainy Season

    Odunge

    April

    [O-dun-ge]

    Beginning of the rainy season/ rain covers the sun

  6. Wet / Rainy Season

    Opedelei

    May

    [O-pe-de-le-i / A-bwa-ta-id-we]

    Month of thin stomachs/ children waiting for food

  7. Wet / Rainy Season

    Omaruk

    June

    [O-ma-ruk]

    Month of mushrooms

  8. Wet / Rainy Season

    Omodokokingol

    July

    [O-mo-do-ko-ki-ngol]

    Millet harvest / month of the dirty mixing stick

  9. Season of Plenty

    Otikoik / Oloja

    August

    [O-ti-ko-ik / O-lo-ja]

    Month of big stomachs / big bellies

  10. Season of Plenty

    Otibar / Ocoto

    September

    [O-ti-bar / O-co-to]

    Month of richness / abundance

  11. Season of Plenty

    Osokosokoma

    October

    [O-so-ko-so-ko-ma]

    Month when grass blocks the paths

  12. Season of Plenty

    Osuban

    November

    [O-su-ban]

    Month of ceremonies and rites