Native Americans : Native American Celebrations

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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.