- Native American Spirituality
- yigaquu osaniyu adanvto adadoligi nigohilvi nasquv
utloyasdi nihi
- (May the Great Spirits Blessings Always Be With You)
-
- Cherokee Moons
January Month of the Cold Moon - (U
no lv ta ni)
This time of the season is a time for personal and ritual
observance, fasting and personal purification. During this
season, families prepare for the
coming of the new seasons, starting in Windy Moon Anuyi or March. Personal items and tools
for planting are repaired, and new ones made. Stories about ancestors and the family are
imparted to the younger ones by the elders. A mid-Winter or "Cold Moon Dance" is
usually held in the community as well, marking the passing or ending of one cycle of
seasons and welcoming the beginning of the new cycle. Hearth fires are put out and new
ones made. The putting out of fires and lighting of new ones anciently is the duty of
certain "priest" of certain clans, and coincides with the first new-arrival of
the morning star (Sun's daughter, now called Venus) in the east.
February Month of the Bony Moon- (Ka ga li)
Traditional time of personal-family feast for the ones who had departed this
world. A family meal is prepared with place(s) set for the departed. This is also a time
of fasting and ritual observance. A community dance officiated by a "doctor"
Didanawiskawi commonly referred to as a Medicine-person. Connected to this moon is the
"Medicine Dance".
March Month of the Windy Moon- (A nv yi)
"First New Moon" of the new seasons. Traditional start of the new cycle
of planting seasons or Moons. New town council fires are made. The figure used to portray
this moon is the historic figure of Kanati, one of the many beings created by the
"Apportioned" Unethlana. These "helpers" were variously charged with
the control of the life elements of the earth:
air/earth/fire/water. Their domains are the sky, earth, stars and the Seven Levels of the
universe.
April Month of the Flower Moon- (Ka wo ni)
First plants of the season come out at this time. New births are customary within this
time frame. The first new medicine and herb plants that taught mankind how to defend
against sickness and conjure come out now. Streams and rivers controlled by the spirit
being, "Long Men," renew their lives. Ritual observances are made to "Long
Man" at this time. A dance customary at this season was the "Knee Deep
Dance" of the Spring or Water Frog.
May Month of the Planting Moon- (A ni s gv ti)
Families traditionally prepare the fields and sow them with the stored seeds from
last season. Corn, beans, squash, tomatoes, potatoes, yams and sunflowers are some food
planted at this time. A dance traditionally done at this time is the "Corn
Dance".
June Month of the Green Corn Moon- (De ha lu yi)
First signs of the "corn in tassel", and the emerging of the various
plants
of the fields. People traditionally begin preparations for the upcoming
festivals of the ensuing growing season. People of the AniGadugi Society
begin repairs needed on town houses, family homes and generally provide for the needy. The
AniGadugi Society is a volunteer help group who see to the needs of the less fortunate,
the elderly and the infirm of the villages.
July Month of the Ripe Corn Moon- (Gu ye gwo ni)
First foods or the new planting and the roasting ears of corn are ready.
Towns begin the cycle festivals. Dances and celebrations of thanks to the Earth Mother and
the "Apportioner" Unethlana are given. In the old times this was the traditional
time of the "Green Corn Dance" or festival. A common reference of this moon is
the "first roasting of ears" ...sweet corn-moon. This is the customary time for
commencement of the Stick Ball games traditionally called AniStusti, "Little
War". Today known as "LaCrosse". Stick Ball dances and festivals are
commonly held at this time.
August Month of the end of the Fruit Moon- (Ga lo ni)
Foods of the trees and bushes are gathered at this time. The various "Paint
Clans" begin to gather many of the herbs and medicines for which they were
historically known. Green Corn festivals are commonly held at this time in the present
day. The "Wild Potato" Clans begin harvesting various foods growing along the
streams, marshes, lakes and ponds.
September Month of the Nut Moon- (Du li s di)
The corn harvest referred to as "Ripe Corn Festival" was customarily
held in the early part of this moon to acknowledge Selu the spirit of the corn. Selu is
thought of as First Woman. The festival respects Mother Earth as well for providing all
foods during the growing season. The "Brush Feast Festival" also customarily
takes place in this season. All the fruits and nuts of the bushes and trees of the forest
were gathered as this time. A wide variety of nuts from the trees went into the nut breads
for the various festivals throughout the seasons. Hunting traditionally began in earnest
at this time.
October Month of the Harvest Moon- (Du nin di)
Time of traditional "Harvest Festival" Nowatequa when the people give
thanks to all the living things of the fields and earth that helped them live, and to the
"Apportioner" Unethlana. Cheno i-equa or "Great Moon" Festival is
customarily held at this time.
November Month of the Trading Moon- (Nv da de wi)
Traditionally a time of trading and barter among different towns and tribes for
manufactured goods, produce and goods from hunting. The people traded with other nearby
tribes as well as distant tribes, including those of Canada, Middle America and South
America. Also the customary time of the "Friendship Festival" Adohuna "new
friends made". This was a time when all transgressions were forgiven, except for
murder which traditionally was taken care of according to the law of blood by a clans
person of a murdered person. The festival recalls a time before "world selfishness
and greed". This was a time also when the needy among the towns were given whatever
they needed to help them through the impending lean winter season.
December Month of the Snow Moon- (V s gi yi)
The spirit being, "Snow Man", brings the cold and snow for the earth to
cover the high places while the earth rests until the rebirth of the seasons in the Windy
Moon Anuyi. Families traditionally were busy putting up and storing goods for the next
cycle of seasons. Elders enjoyed teaching and retelling ancient stories of the people to
the young.
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