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The New Year in Swaziland is called "Newala". This is a harvest festival and is also called the fruits ceremony. The celebrations for this take place at the end of the year. The Ngwenyama or "Lion" who was the king of Swaziland was believed to have supernatural powers and exemplify the success and fruitfulness. The people believed that the king ought to have many wives and protect many children.
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There are a lot of proceedings that take place on the New Year in Swaziland. The people in Swaziland believe that before these activities are undertaken the king goes into isolation. Some of these trials include gathering the foam from the tops of waves; a group called the Bemanti or Swazi water officials collect water from the major water rivers. These are some of the customs that the people in Swaziland follow on New Year.
Lusekwane is a type of acacia that the inhabitants of Swaziland regard as holy on New Year. The youth bring these to the cattle pen on New Year. Custom has it that "nhlambelo" that is the king's sanctified area is surrounded by warriors who recite holy songs and dance around. The New Year's celebration comes to a close when the king is asked to rejoin his people.
The king is seen as a part of the celebrations along with the people dressed in a headdress of large black plumes, a silver monkey skin belt, his face is blackened with medicines and his entire body is covenavy by green grass. Luselwa is a special pumpkin a part of which is eaten by the king while dancing before his people. The rest of the pumpkin is thrown to the warriors on New Year. This custom that is followed by the people of Swaziland symbolizes that it is a time for eating the new crops.
The Newala ends when a bonfire is lit. This custom of lighting bonfires signifies burning off the old year and welcoming the New Year with ecstasy and joy. The people in Swaziland believe that it will rain on New Year so that the bonfire can extinguish the flames.
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