VisitorsThere are six major ceremonies which are observed yearly by the Cherokee. They are held during the year which can be of twelve to thirteen months depending upon the number of moons occurring in that year. A seventh ceremony occurs every seven years.
Celebrated about the time grass
begins to grow. Prior to the festival the Uku and his council of
seven ask the women to perform a friendship dance. Then using a
crystal divine when the new moon will appear. The festival is a
time when the old fires in the homes are extinguished and ashes
removed and replaced with new fire started at the festival. As a
offering of thanks, the tongue of the next deer killed by the
husband of each house is sacrificed to the new fire in his
home.
The Uku issues instructions to
his seven counselors for the regulation and watching of the
growing fields. When the corn has reached the stage (fit to taste)
for the New Green-Corn Feast, messengers are sent to alert the
nation of the event. Seven ears of corn, one from the fields of
each clan are gathered by the chief messenger, and given to the
seven counselors, who in turn give these to the Uku. Prayer is
offered in gratitude by the Uku.
Forty to fifty days after the
New Green-Corn Feast, the Uku sent his seven counselors to
determine the state of the corn. If it was as was expected a dance
was held. Twenty days after the dance, a feast is held. It is a
time of great happiness and exultation.
The first new moon of Autumn
marks the beginning of this festival. The seven counselors
determine for the Uku when it will appear. This Great New Moon
marks when the world was created, and marks the beginning of the
lunar year.
A day or two after the Great New
Moon Festival, the seven counselors meet to set the date for the
beginning of the Propitiation Festival, whose beginning was always
seven nights later. It marks the expressing of devotional feelings
to those who are the source of all their blessings, the cleansing
of impurities from the previous year, and the replacing of fires
in the home.
The date of this festival is set
during the Great New Moon Festival. This festival marks the end of
the festivals for the year. It is a joyful feast, marked by the
offering of wild old tobacco to the great sacred fire.
This festival occurs every seven
years, and is the time when the Uku and all offer their thanks to
the Creator.
All tribal chanting, for whatever purpose, originated from the slaying and sacrifice of a monster creature called Stone Coat (Nayvnvwi) which translated literally means "stone coat-on". These songs are found at the ceremonies that are held during the year.
In the Cherokee system of tradition and beliefs, there are four realms of being as ones life is lived. The first realm occurs with birth, with the realization that one is alive and is symbolized by the child's first smile. The second realm of adolescence begins at the age of seven and is a time when exploration and development of ones special talents occurs. Adulthood or the third realm, is a period during which we offer our assistance to the family, clan, tribe, and community as the depth of the inner vision is added to. Being an elder or a "keeper of the wisdom", occurs in ones 51st or 52nd year and is the fourth realm. This is a special time during which understandings of relationships, and the forces of nature and energy are offered through harmonizations.
North is the keeper of winter.
The North is associated to the color blue and represents sadness,
humility and defeat. Winter is the season of survival and waiting.
The Cherokee word for North is u-yv-tlv and translates to cold. It is
the direction of the Mental, and is the path of Quiet. The key is
sharing and teaching.
East is the keeper of spring. The
East is associated to the color red and represents victory, power,
and war. Spring is the re-awakening of Mother Earth after a long
sleep and the victory over go-la. The Cherokee word for East is
ka-lv-gv. It is the direction of the Spiritual and is the path of the
Sun. The key is coming together and honoring the Elders.
South is the keeper of summer.
The South is associated to the color white. The Cherokee word for
white is and the color represents peace, happiness, and serenity. The
Cherokee word for South is u-ga-no-wa and translates to warm. Is the
direction of the Natural and is the path of Peace. The key is
innocence.
West is the keeper of autumn. The West is
associated to the color black. The Cherokee word for black is
a-gv-ni-ge and the color represents death. The Cherokee word for West
is wu-de-li-gv and translates to where it is hidden. It is the
direction of the Physical and is the path of Introspection. The key
is to help those less fortunate.
The color for the center is green and represents here, where we
are now. The Cherokee word for green is i'-tse-yu'-s-di which means of the new kind.
Above is the color yellow and represents
peace and order of the seven worlds above.The Cherokee word for
yellow is da-lo-ni-ge
The color for below is orange/browm which
represents the choos and turmoil of the Earth ever
changing.
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