Incwala is a significant cultural ritual observed in Eswatini (formerly known as Swaziland), occurring every year from mid-December to early January, with a public holiday on December 28. This three-week-long ceremony celebrates the first fruits of the harvest and aims to unite the citizens while receiving blessings from ancestors. The ritual is centered around the king, who plays a crucial role in strengthening the kingship, as it is said that without a king, there is no Incwala. The ceremony is prepared and conducted by priests known as Belwandle or Bemanti, who gather sacred water and sea foam, believed to have healing properties. The festivities culminate with the king tasting the first fruits of the new season within a sacred enclosure, followed by a day of purification where people burn unwanted items and celebrate with feasting and dancing. The final ritual includes ceremonial weeding of the fields, marking the end of Incwala.