Festivals & Events

1. ᖁᕕᐊᓱᕝᕕᒃ

   Qu-vi-a-suv-vik

   Christmas

   Usage

   The word for Christmas. It is built from a word for being happy

   Grammar Note

   Formed from quviasuk ("be happy") + -vik ("place or time of")

2. ᖁᕕᐊᓱᒋᑦ ᖁᕕᐊᓱᕕᒻᒥ.

   Qu-vi-a-su-git Qu-vi-a-su-vim-mi.

   Merry Christmas.

   Usage

   A Christmas greeting, in the form for one person

   Grammar Note

   -git addresses one person. For two people use -gitsik, for three or more -gitsi

3. ᖁᕕᐊᓲᓯᐊᖅ

   Qu-vi-a-suu-si-aq

   Christmas present

   Usage

   A gift given at Christmas

   Grammar Note

   A plain noun

4. ᐊᕐᕌᒍᑖᖅᑲᐅᒻᒧᑦ ᐃᑳᕐᕕᐊ

   A-rraa-gu-taaq-ka-um-mut I-kaar-vi-a

   New Year's

   Usage

   The phrase for New Year's. It literally refers to the crossing into the next year

   Grammar Note

   A fixed two-word expression. Word for word it is roughly "crossing point to the new year"

5. ᓄᓇᕗᑦ ᐅᓪᓗᖓ

   Nu-na-vut Ul-lu-nga

   Nunavut Day (July 9)

   Usage

   The July 9 holiday celebrating the creation of the territory, with events in each community

   Grammar Note

   Nunavut ("our land") + ullunga ("its day") gives "Nunavut's day"

6. ᖃᖓ ᓇᓪᓕᐅᑎᓲᖑᕕᑦ?

   Qa-nga Nal-li-u-ti-suu-ngu-vit?

   When is your birthday?

   Usage

   Asks when someone's birthday is, a good opener at a celebration

   Grammar Note

   -vit marks a question to one person. A reply starts with Nalliutisuungujunga ("my birthday is...")

7. ᓇᓪᓕᐅᑎᓲᖑᔪᖓ ᐄᐳᕆᒥ.

   Nal-li-u-ti-suu-ngu-ju-nga Ii-pu-ri-mi.

   My birthday is in April.

   Usage

   States the month of your birthday; swap in another month name. The name for April differs by region; this is the South Baffin form

   Grammar Note

   The ending -mi on a month name means "in". For June, use ᔫᓂᒥ (juunimi) in the same slot

8. ᒪᑭᕝᕕᐊ

   Ma-kiv-vi-a

   Easter

   Usage

   The word for Easter, an important spring holiday

   Grammar Note

   A plain noun

9. ᓇᓪᓕᒍᓱᓐᓇᖅ

   Nal-li-gu-sun-naq

   Valentine's Day

   Usage

   The word for Valentine's Day, built from the word for feeling love

   Grammar Note

   A plain noun

10. ᓂᕆᕕᔾᔪᐊᖅ

    Ni-ri-vij-ju-aq

    feast (community event)

    Usage

    A gathering at holidays and events where the community shares traditional food. Accept if invited

    Grammar Note

    Formed from nirivik ("eating place") + -juaq ("big")

11. ᕿᑲᑦᑎᐊᓛᖅᑯᑎᑦ!

    Qi-kat-ti-a-laaq-ku-tit!

    Have a great holiday!

    Usage

    A farewell wish to someone before a holiday or vacation

    Grammar Note

    This form is for one person

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