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In today´s post we are going to talk about some celebrations that the Native Americans celebrate each month. We hope you enjoy it!
The Powamu Festival
The Powamu
Festival is the mid-winter ceremony and it is also called the Bean Planting
Festival. It is observed in late January
or early February. The celebration lasts 8 days and it is mainly celebrated
by the Hopi Indians in Arizona.
The
Iroquois Midwinter Ceremony
The
Iroquois Midwinter Ceremony is held in either January or February. When the dipper constellation appears in the sky directly overhead, you then wait
for the new moon to be seen. This is when
the spiritual year begins. You then wait
5 days after the new moon to begin the ceremony. The celebration lasts 9 days with a lot
of traditional events, as well as
choosing new council members for the next year.
The Kwakiutl
Midwinter Ceremony
The winter
ceremony season is when they acknowledge and reaffirm their connection with the
supernatural world. The Kwakiutl Midwinter Ceremony is done in Febrauary.
The
Athabascan Stickdance
The
Athabascan Stickdance is held for one week every March by the Athabascan Indians of Alaska. The Athabascan Indians take their name from Lake
Athabasca in Canada. Athabasca is
derived from a Cree word meaning the way plants or grasses grow in the shallow
end of a lake. The spelling of the tribe name varies from Athabasca,
Athapaskan, Athabaskan and Athapascan.
The
Navajo Mountain Chant
The Navajo
Mountain Chant is held in Arizona, nine days at the end of winter. Basically, this observance marks the seasonal transition. It happens at
the end of the thunderstorms but before the spring winds come. The Navajo believe that if this ceremony was
held at any other time, it would result in death from lightning or snake
bite. The chant is also considered a curing
ceremony, not only for physical healing in those that are ill, but also to heal
relationship disharmony and restore balance in relationships.
The
Yaqui Easter Festival
The Yaqui
Easter Festival goes on for seven weeks. It is celebrated in the State of Arizona
in the United States and in the country of Mexico. The ceremony ends on Easter Sunday. The name
of this festival comes from the Yaqui Indians, now living in the Tuscon and
Phoenix, Arizona area that are descendants of the original tribe that lived near
the Yaqui River in the northwestern area of Mexico. And, who later fled to the
southwestern U.S. during the 18th and
19th century wars between Spain and the Mexican governments. But, earlier in
the 17th century, Jesuit missionaries arrived in the area and began teaching
Christianity to the Yaqui. They continued to hold on to many of their cultural
beliefs, while also accepting some Roman Catholic practices as well. This
mixing of tribal customs with Christian customs is a good example with their
Easter celebration.
The
Ute Bear Dance
The Ute
Bear Dance is performed every Spring, around late May or June by the Ute
Indians of Colorado. It is the oldest
dance that the tribe performs and dates back further than the 15th Century when
Spanish explorers witnessed it. And, it
is the only dance that the Utes originated. The area of Colorado where this is
most observed is in Towaoe and Ignacio. The purpose of this dance is for mating
and courtship. The second purpose is to celebrate the arrival of spring, as
well as an opportunity to get together and celebrate.
The
Sun Dance
The Sun
Dance is a ceremony for healing. Not everyone does the Sun Dance. You have to
have a reason and to pray with your heart. This is also a controversial topic for many.
The
Apache Girls' Sunrise Ceremony
The Apache
Girls' Sunrise Ceremony is celebrated for 4 days in July in Arizona and New Mexico to celebrate the
coming-of-age of young Apache women. (The sign of this is when a girl begins
her first menstruation.). The Apache Indians believe that their early ancestors
emerged from the underworld by climbing up a cane stalk behind the Red Ants,
who they also refer to as "The First People." The Changing Woman, also known to them as the
White-Painted Woman (orEsdzanadehe) was the very first Apache. She appeared in the East as a beautiful young
woman, then moved to the West and disappeared when she grew old.
The
Eagle Dance
The Eagle
Dance is not specific to one certain group. It is performed by many Native
American Indians as part of their ceremonies. However, the details of the dance
will vary from tribe to tribe. It is most commonly performed in early spring,
but can be performed at any other time of the year.
The Miwok Acorn Festival
The Miwok Acorn Festival is held on the fourth
weekend every September by the Miwok Indians
that lived in the area that we know today as Northern California.
The Miwok
Indians were just like other California Native Americans and relied a lot on
acorns for food. They harvested these from the valley oaks in the autumn and
stored them in cha'ka or granaries. The acorns can't be eaten as is. They had
to go through a special designed process to get rid of the tannin, which
prevents the human body from absorbing their nutrients. Tannin also gave the
acorns a bitter taste.
The Shalako Ceremony
The Shalako
Ceremony is performed in late November or early December and takes place after
the crops are in. This ceremony is the most important event of the year for the Zuni
Indians of New Mexico.
The Hopi
Soyaluna Ceremony
It is a
ceremony related to the sun as it relates to the winter solstice. It is one of the Hopi's most sacred
ceremonies and is also called the "Prayer-Offering Ceremony" because it is a time for saying prayers for
the New Year and for wishing each other prosperity and health.
That is all about the Native American ceremonies. If you want more information, you can visit it in our bibliography. We hope you liked it!
Bibliography: