Occasional Word in Merechi: chèmbel

chèmbel   ['xEmbEl] n. festival, holiday.

The two chèmbelet associated with the mërèchi ceremonial "year", the alíta, are the one-day chèmbel ènchënö , or Festival of Half, which is inserted in the middle of the alíta, and the five day chèmbel pëpícümnö , or Festival of Dancing, which occurs in the space between alítat. During these festivals, time is considered to be outside of both the alíta and the current 20-day "month" (about which more tomorrow), and even the days of the 4- and 5-day mërèchi weeks are suspended.

Example:

étial sëlítya pónche chèmbelnö pëpícümnö: Today is the second day of the Festival of Dancing.