January Month of the Cold Moon - U no lv ta ni -
The season is a time for personal and ritual coming of the new seasons, starting in
Windy Moon Anuyior March
Personal items and tools for planting are repaired,
and new ones made. Stories about ancestors and the A mid-Winter or Cold Moon Dance is usually held in the community as well, marking the passing or pending of one cycle of seasons and
welcoming the beginning of the new cycle.
Hearth fires are put out and new ones made.
February Month of the Bony Moon - Ka ga li - ns
Traditional time of personal family feast
for the ones who had departed .
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
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,
new cycle of planting seasons.
New town council fires are made.
Portray of this moon is the figure
of Kanati, one of the many beings
created by the Unethlana.
These helpers were variously
charged with the control of the life
elements of the earth: air,earth,fire and 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 .
The first new medicine and herb
plants that taught mankind how to defend
against sickness and conjury come out now.
A dance customary at this season
was the Knee Deep Dance
or the Water Frog dance of the Spring .
May Month of the Planting Moon - A ni s gv ti
Preparing of fields and sow them
with the stored seeds from last season.
Corn, beans, squash, tomatoes,
potatoes and yams are planted
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.
People of the AniGadugi Society
begin repairs needed on lodges, family homes
and generally provide for the needy.
July Month of the Ripe Corn Moon - Gu ye quo 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 Unethlana are given.
August Month of the end of the Fruit Moon - Ga lo ni
Foods of the trees and bushes
of the herbs and medicines.
Green Corn festivals are commonly held .
Wild Potato Clans begin harvesting various foods growing along the 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 as well for providing all foods during the growing season. All the fruits and nuts of the bushes and trees of traditionally began in earnest at this time.
October Month of the Harvest Moon - Du ni n(v) di
Traditional Harvest Festival when the people give thanks for they recieved
Great Moon Festival is customarily held at this time.
Many Cherokee New Year celebrations
was during this time
November Month of the Trading Moon - Nv da de wi
Traditionally a time of trading and
barter among different towns and tribes .
The people traded with other nearby
tribes as well as distant tribes
Also the customary time of the Friendship Festival.
This was a time when all transgressions were forgiven. 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 see winter threw.
December Month of the Snow Moon - V s gi yi
The spirit being, brings the cold
and snow for the earth to cover
of the seasons in the Windy Moon
Families were busy Elders enjoyed teaching and retelling ancient stories
Winter belongs to the North.
The color for North is Blue which represents sadness, defeat. It is a season of survival and waiting.
The color for East is Red which represents victory, power.
Spring is the re-awakening after a long sleep - victory over winter; the power of new life.
The color for South is White which represents peace, happiness, serenity.
Summer is a time of plenty.
The color for West is Black which represents death.
Autumn is the final harvest; the end of Life's Cycle
East = red = success; triumph
North = blue = defeat; trouble
West = black = death
South = white = peace; happiness
There are three additional sacred directions
Up Above = yellow
Down Below = brown
Center = green
family are told to younger ones by the elders.
