Post by Mystic on Nov 20, 2006 17:07:16 GMT -5
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October : Month of the Harvest Moon
It is the time of the Great New Moon Ceremony when thanks is given to the Mother Earth and Creator. The Cherokee New Year begins on the first new moon after the fall equinox. Nvda equa ( Great Moon ) Festival is held at this time. Cherokee New Year celebrations happen during this time. The Friends Made Ceremony is held during this time also. This is when all the years transgressions are forgiven.
November : Month of the Trading Moon
The Bounding Bush Ceremony is held to acknowledge the source of our blessings. A time of trading and barter among different towns and tribes for manufactured goods, produce, and goods from hunting. The people traded with nearby tribes as well as distant tribes, including those of Canada Middle America, and South America. This was also a time when those in need were given whatever they needed to make it through the winter.
December : Month of the Snow Moon
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 were busy putting up and storing goods for the next cycle of seasons. Elders enjoy teaching and retelling ancient stories of the people to the young.
January : Month of the Cold Moon
During this time families prepare for the coming of the new seasons, starting in Windy Moon Anuyi ( March ). Personal items and tools are repaired and new ones made in anticipation of spring. It is also a time for personal and ritual observance, fasting, and personal purification. Stories about the ancestors and the family are imported to the younger ones by the elders. A celebration known as the " Cold Moon Dance" is held in the community as well, marking the passing of one cycle of seasons and welcoming the beginning of the new cycle.. Hearth fires are put out and news ones made. The putting out of fires and lighting new ones anciently is the duty of certain "priest" of certain clans, and coincides with the first new - arrival of the morning star in the east.
February : Month of the Bony Moon
Traditional time of personal family feast for the ones who have 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 known as the Medicine Dance was officiated by a "doctor", Dida:hnvwi:sgi which means "curer of them."
March : Month of the Windy Moon
Traditional start of the new cycle of planting seasons or Moons, but the true seasonal cycle begins with the first New Moon after the Spring Equinox. New town council fires are made. The figure used to portray this moon is the figure of Kanati, one of the many beings created by 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
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 conjury come out now. Streams and rivers controlled by the spirit being, "Long Man," renew their strength. Ritual observances are made to "Long Man" at this time. A dance customary at this season was the "Knee Deep Dance" or the Water Frog dance of Spring.
May : Month of the Planting Moon
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" to ensure good crops.
June : Month of the Green Corn Moon
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 general welfare of the villages
July : Month of the Ripe Corn Moon
First foods or the new planting and the roasting ears of corn are ready. Towns begin the cycle festivals because field plants begin to produce. 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 also the "first roasting of ears" or the "sweet corn-moon". This is the customary time for commencement of the Stick Ball games traditionally called AniStusti - "Little War". Stick Ball dances and festivals are commonly held starting with this moon.
August : Month of the end of the Fruit Moon
Fruits from 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 also begin harvesting various foods growing along the streams, marshes, lakes and ponds.
September : Month of the Nut Moon
The Ripe Corn Festival was customarily held in the early part of this moon to acknowledge Selu, the Corn Mother. 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
It is the time of the Great New Moon Ceremony when thanks is given to the Mother Earth and Creator. The Cherokee New Year begins on the first new moon after the fall equinox. Nvda equa ( Great Moon ) Festival is held at this time. Cherokee New Year celebrations happen during this time. The Friends Made Ceremony is held during this time also. This is when all the years transgressions are forgiven.
November : Month of the Trading Moon
The Bounding Bush Ceremony is held to acknowledge the source of our blessings. A time of trading and barter among different towns and tribes for manufactured goods, produce, and goods from hunting. The people traded with nearby tribes as well as distant tribes, including those of Canada Middle America, and South America. This was also a time when those in need were given whatever they needed to make it through the winter.
December : Month of the Snow Moon
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 were busy putting up and storing goods for the next cycle of seasons. Elders enjoy teaching and retelling ancient stories of the people to the young.
January : Month of the Cold Moon
During this time families prepare for the coming of the new seasons, starting in Windy Moon Anuyi ( March ). Personal items and tools are repaired and new ones made in anticipation of spring. It is also a time for personal and ritual observance, fasting, and personal purification. Stories about the ancestors and the family are imported to the younger ones by the elders. A celebration known as the " Cold Moon Dance" is held in the community as well, marking the passing of one cycle of seasons and welcoming the beginning of the new cycle.. Hearth fires are put out and news ones made. The putting out of fires and lighting new ones anciently is the duty of certain "priest" of certain clans, and coincides with the first new - arrival of the morning star in the east.
February : Month of the Bony Moon
Traditional time of personal family feast for the ones who have 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 known as the Medicine Dance was officiated by a "doctor", Dida:hnvwi:sgi which means "curer of them."
March : Month of the Windy Moon
Traditional start of the new cycle of planting seasons or Moons, but the true seasonal cycle begins with the first New Moon after the Spring Equinox. New town council fires are made. The figure used to portray this moon is the figure of Kanati, one of the many beings created by 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
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 conjury come out now. Streams and rivers controlled by the spirit being, "Long Man," renew their strength. Ritual observances are made to "Long Man" at this time. A dance customary at this season was the "Knee Deep Dance" or the Water Frog dance of Spring.
May : Month of the Planting Moon
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" to ensure good crops.
June : Month of the Green Corn Moon
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 general welfare of the villages
July : Month of the Ripe Corn Moon
First foods or the new planting and the roasting ears of corn are ready. Towns begin the cycle festivals because field plants begin to produce. 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 also the "first roasting of ears" or the "sweet corn-moon". This is the customary time for commencement of the Stick Ball games traditionally called AniStusti - "Little War". Stick Ball dances and festivals are commonly held starting with this moon.
August : Month of the end of the Fruit Moon
Fruits from 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 also begin harvesting various foods growing along the streams, marshes, lakes and ponds.
September : Month of the Nut Moon
The Ripe Corn Festival was customarily held in the early part of this moon to acknowledge Selu, the Corn Mother. 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.
