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From: "Blue_Panther" <>
Subject: [Cherokee Circle] Cherokee Moons
Date: Sun, 2 Jun 2002 22:32:45 -0500


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 "Apportioner" 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 conjury 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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