Kusisqa Nawidad
Kusisqa Nawidad is the Quechua way to say merry Christmas.
This phrase is used to express good wishes during the Christmas season.
Meaning: good wishes at Christmas time (phrase)
What does it mean word for word?
The word Kusisqa literally means happy, joyful or glad.
Did you know?
- In the Andes, Christmas celebrations often merge with the solstice and the worship of Pachamama or Mother Earth. A greeting like Kusisqa Nawidad may be accompanied by offerings of coca leaves to the ground.
- The root word kusiy refers to a state of joy that is often communal rather than individual. In Quechua culture, being 'happy' is frequently tied to the harmony of the community.
- Quechua is an agglutinative language, meaning it builds meaning by adding suffixes. While Kusisqa looks like a single word, it is actually a combination of a root and a grammatical marker.
Example conversation
Yuriana and Wayllu meet on the street during the holiday season.
- Yuriana¡Kusisqa Nawidad, Wayllu!Merry Christmas, Wayllu!
- Wayllu¡Kusisqa Nawidad, Yuriana!Merry Christmas, Yuriana!
- YurianaAllillanchu kashanki?Are you doing well?
- WaylluAri, ancha allinmi kashani.Yes, I am doing very well.
