CHEROKEE MOONS
AniTsalagi Svnoyihi
By: David Wolfe
English Words Cherokee Words
Cold Moon�January Unolvtani
Bony Moon�February Kagali
Windy Moon�March Anvy
Flower Moon�April Kawoni
Planting Moon�May AniSguti
Green Corn Moon...June Tihaluhiyi
Ripe Corn Moon�July Guyegwoni
Fruit Moon...August Galoni
Nut Moon...September Dultidsdi
Harvest Moon...October Duninudi
Trading Moon...November Nudadequa
Snow Moon...December Usgiyi
TRADITIONAL EVENTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE MOONS:
JANUARY: Cold Moon Unolvtani
This time of the season is a time for personal and ritual observance, (Physical or Spiritual) fasting and purification.
During this season, families prepare for the coming of the new seasons, starting in the 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 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 "priests" of certain clans, and coincides with the first new-arrival of the morning star in the East.
FEBRUARY: Bony Moon Kagali
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 referred to as a Medicine-person/Holy Person. Connected to this moon is the "Medicine Dance".
MARCH: Windy Moon Anuyi
"First New Moon" of the new seasons. Traditional start of the new cycle of planting seasons or Moons. New town council fires are made. A special dance and ceremony is done to give honor and respect to the "Four Directional Spirits" also known as the "Four Arch Angels" that the Creator God (He is called by many names in many different tongues and languages of the world, Yowa, Yahweh, The Great Spirit, The Great Mystery, to name just a very few of the Native terms) He is still all the same one and only God of the entire universe whom gave charge, to the four Directional Spirits/Arch Angels over the four corners of the Earth.
They are also responsible to help in protecting all from evil and total destruction.
NOTE: Native Americans "The Original People" DO NOT worship these beings or any animal(s), they only give full and absolute worship to the Creator God only and His Son .
Respect and Honour is what is given and shown to mother earth and animals and other human beings and spiritual beings (Like our Ancestors/Loved ones before us) Also, the spiritual beings created by the Creator of all called "Angels".
APRIL: Flower Moon Kawoni
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 are blooming and are easier to find to prepare for harvesting later. Rivers and streams are renewed from the winter, cleansed fresh and free flowing once again.
A dance and ceremony is performed in honour of the "Long People"(Water People/Spirits) called by the Tsalagi (Cherokee) people, the "Knee Deep Dance or Water Frog Dance".
MAY: Planting Moon Anisguti
Families traditionally prepare the fields and sow them with the stored seeds from the last season. Corn, beans, squashes, tomatoes, potatoes, yams, and sunflowers are just some of the basic foods planted at this time. A dance called the 'Corn Dance" is traditionally held at this time.
JUNE: Green Corn Tihaluhiyi
First signs of the "corn in tassel" and the emerging of the various plants in the field. People traditionally begin preparations for the upcoming festivals for the growing season. This is one of the many times throughout the entire year that, that the needs of the Elderly or in firmed of the villages and towns of the Tribe(s) or Nation(s) needs are seen to and met.
JULY: Ripe Corn Moon Guyegwoni
First foods or the new planting and the roasting ears of corn are ready. Towns begin the cycle festivals. Dances and celebrations of thanks, honour and respect are given to Earth Mother during this time. 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 of corn" also called the "Sweet Corn Moon". This is the customary time for commencement of the Stick Ball games traditionally called AniStusti, "Little War". Today known as "LaCross". Stickball dances and festivals are commonly held at this time.
AUGUST: Fruit Moon Galoni
Foods of the trees and bushes are gathered at this time. The various "Paint Clans" begin to gather many of the herbs and medicines to make into salves, poultices and tinctures etc.
Green Corn festivals are commonly held at this time in the present day. The "Wild Potato" clans AniNudawegi, begin harvesting various foods growing along the streams, marshes, lakes and ponds.
SEPTEMBER: Nut Moon Dultidsdi
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 corn. Selu is thought of as the first woman (Mother Earth). This festive "The Brush Feast" done at this time is to give Honor and Respect to Earth Mother for her yielding and providing all foods during the growing season. Most of all for the fact that we are all from the dust of Earth Mother from the very beginning of time formed by the Creators' hands, and breathed the breath of life into by the Creator of the entire Universe. It also is a time of remembrance that we as all things, go through "four cycles of life". Birth, Infant, Youth and Elder hood/Maturity. Then the cycle begins again as does Spring, summer, fall and winter.
All the fruits and nuts of the bushes and trees of the forest and surrounding areas were gathered at this time. These usually went into many varieties of foods and breads. Hunting began at this time for storage and preparation of the winter to come.
OCTOBER: Harvest Moon Duninudi
Time of traditional "Harvest Festival" Nowatequa when the people gave thanks to all living things of the field and earth that helped the people to live. The "Great Moon" festival was held at this time.
NOVEMBER: Trading Moon Nudadaequa
Traditionally a time of trading and barter among different towns and tribes for manufactured goods, produced and goods from hunting. The "Original People" traded with other nearby tribes and Nations from all over the world, by land and sea long before the European came to be known.
This was the time of the "Friendship Festival" Adohuna means "New Friends Made". This was also the time, that all transgressions were forgiven, except for murder. Murder was traditionally taken care of according to the "Law of Blood" by the individual clans of that murdered person. The festival results recalls a time before "world selfishness and greed". This was a time also again, is a time when the needy among the people are given whatever is needed to help them through the impending lean winter season.
DECEMBER: Snow Moon Usgiyi
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". Families traditionally were busy putting up and storing goods for the next cycle of seasons. Elders enjoyed teaching and retelling stories of ancient times and present of the people and things to the young to pass on to their young later on, keeping history and beliefs alive.
