Gurrubuu Burranbaa (New Year)
For an in-depth discussion on alternative greetings from Dr John Giacon, click here.
Gurrubuu 'year' is a new word, from gurru 'hole, circle' and -Buu 'total'. It takes the earth a year to circle the sun.
Burranbaa 'new' (Yuwaalayaay) is related to the verb burranba-li ‘(will) cause a change’. We have used this instead of other possible words:
- nhuubala 'new' (Gamilaraay), which is probably from English 'new fellow', possibly mixed with the Yuwaalaraay/Yuwaalayaay suffix -bala 'contrast';
- yilaan.gaal (Yuwaalayaay) 'fresh', and possibly 'new' is probably related to yilaa ‘short time’;
- guliyaan (Yuwaalaraay) 'new, strange'.
Gurrubuu Burranbaa Gayaa!
[year new happy]
Happy New Year!
- Download a pdf of this picture here: Gurrubuu-burranbaa-gayaa.pdf
- Or click on the pciture to download the jpg file:

- Download pdf file here: Gurrubuu-Burranbaa-flowers.pdf
- Or click on the picture to download the jpg file:

Gurrubuu-wadhaay Gaba!
[year-hope good]
Best wishes for the New Year!
- Download the pdf: Gurrubuu-wadhaay-gaba.pdf
- Or click on the picture to download the jpg file:
