Cherokee Ceremonies, Seven National Festivals

Cherokee ceremonies are held in concert with cycles of Mother Earth.
During ceremony, positive attitudes are far more important than rituals.
Ceremonies offer opportunities for community worship, socialization, and bonding.
Ceremonial musical instruments used for dancing and festivals include
drums, gourd rattles, and turtle shell rattles (leg shackles).

 

As part of worship, stomp dancing is held around the sacred fire and is accompanied by drums, singing, and leg-shackles worn by women. Other dancing occurred in a
'square', a social area, usually around a center pole or social fire.

This was usually an area near the Council House, or the Long House. Our
Cherokee ancestors tried to make each ceremony unique in some way-they were
creative.

Music, dancing, feasting, stickball and storytelling were joyous expressions
of thanksgiving and occasions for Cherokee bonding at all cyclical
ceremonies.

 

A sacred fire containing seven different types of wood, to
represent the seven clans, was prepared and lit prior to ceremony
according to sacred rites. Direction of movement around the sacred fire during
Cherokee ceremony in counter- clockwise.

 

A complete, unbroken circle of "Red Heart' people around the fire produces powerful energy of Creator's presence carried by the positive attitudes in the heart of the participants.


1. Great New Moon Ceremony

Celebrated at the first new moon in autumn (October). The Great New
Moon Feast begins a new cycle at the end on nature's previous productive
year.
This ceremony gave the Cherokee an opportunity to give thanksgiving to
the Great Spirit and the ancestors for their blessings on us. It was a time
to feast, and give thanks to Creator that the cycle would continue.


2. Propitiation of Cementation Ceremony (Friendship Ceremony)

Celebrated 10 days after the Great New Moon Ceremony. This ceremony
symbolizes the unity between Creator and mankind. Traditionally two men
publicly exchanged clothes, one piece at a time. They were then brothers for
life. A blood adoption ceremony would be appropriate during this
ceremony.
Purification rites followed the Cementation Ceremony, removing any
unforeseen barriers that stood between us and Creator.


3. Bouncing Bush Ceremony (Exalting Bush Festival)

This was a joyous ceremony where Cherokee expressed unrestrained joy
giving thanks to the Great Spirit and his helpers, acknowledging them as the
source of our blessings. It followed shortly after the Cementation Ceremony.
Dancing and feasting abound, and thanksgiving was expressed by everyone
tossing an offering of sacred tobacco into the sacred fire.


4. First New Moon of Spring Ceremony

Celebrated in March, at the time the green grass began to grow. Fruits
from the previous fall harvest were brought to ceremony and consumed to
remember the continuation of Creator's care and blessing. All fire were put out,
and fresh fires were started from the new fire, symbolizing fresh beginnings,
and renewal of life from Mother Earth.


5. Green Corn Ceremony

Celebrated in July, or August, when corn is still green but fit to taste. A
thanksgiving ceremony including a sacred fire, dancing, feasting, and
story telling (especially the traditional legends of our wandering, and
creation.)
A Priest must make an offering of first fruits of corn to the sacred
fire before corn may be eaten or harvested by others.


6. Ripe Corn Ceremony

Celebrated about 40 to 50 days after the Green Corn Ceremony, when the
corn is matured. This is the end of the national cycle of ceremonies.
Thanksgiving is offered to Creator for the harvest of mature, ripe fruit.


7. The Chief Dance (UKU Ceremony)

Celebrated once every seven years. The Principal Cherokee Chief is carried
into the Sacred Circle of the Sacred Fire, on a white chair, and
acknowledged, as Chief of all the people is each of the clans. This ceremony
reminds us of the one true Chief, the Great Spirit-Creator. Dancing and
feasting follow.


From the Archives of Little Mother

From: "blue panther" <[email protected]>