Comparing Cherokee & Modern American Monthly Activities

Native American

Modern American

MOONS

ACTIVITIES

MONTHS

ACTIVITIES

COLD MOON

Fasting, Stories, Clothes and Tool Repair, COLD MOON DANCE to mark end of cycle of seasons, Lighting new fires

JANUARY

NEW YEAR'S DANCE to mark end of year, Martin Luther King's Birthday

BONY MOON

Fasting, Feast to remember departed family members, MEDICINE DANCE

FEBRUARY

Groundhog's Day, on Valentine's Day friends send greetings*, Presidents Day honors past Presidents

WINDY MOON

Planting Season, worship spirits controling life elements-air, earth, fire and water. Seven levels of universe.

MARCH

St. Patrick's Day,First Day of Spring, Planting Season

FLOWERY MOON

First plants and herbs for new medicine, new births, Streams renewed by Long Spirit Man, KNEE DEEP DANCE of Spring or Water Frog

APRIL

Flowers spring up, Easter, Spring Break, SPRING FESTIVAL

PLANTING MOON

Sow seeds for corn, beans, squash, tomatoes, potatoes and sunflowers, CORN DANCE

MAY

The Kentucky Derby & Indy 500 races, planting gardens, flowers grow, Memorial Day honors departed family members.

GREEN CORN MOON

Plants emerge, corn tassels, repair houses, provide for needy, begin preparations for upcoming festivals

JUNE

Gardens grow, baseball games, summer vacation

RIPE CORN MOON or SWEET CORN MOON

First foods of the new planting and roasting ears are ready. Thanksgiving GREEN CORN DANCE/ festival, Stickball games, dances and festivals.

JULY

Corn on the cob and other garden food, Family Reunions, Fourth of July, Fireworks, Baseball games, swimming

FRUIT MOON

Herbs and medicines plants gathered

AUGUST

School begins, physicals & immunization shots

FRUIT MOON

RIPE CORN FESTIVAL, BRUSH FEAST FESTIVAL, fruits & nuts harvested, HUNTING

SEPTEMBER

Labor Day, apples and nuts harvested, hunting season

HARVEST MOON

GREAT MOON FESTIVAL, HARVEST FESTIVAL, thanks given for all living things of fields & earth helping them live

OCTOBER

Corn harvested, Halloween, football games, pumpkins decorated

TRADING MOON

Trading & barter with nearby & distant tribes, FRIENDSHIP FESTIVAL* when all transgressions were forgiven, needy given help for winter season.

NOVEMBER

VETERANS DAY remembers armed services contributions to freedom, THANKS-GIVING FEAST, thanks given for food and blessings, baskets of food given to needy, basketball games.

SNOW MOON

SNOW MAN brings cold and snow, families stored goods for next cycle of seasons, Elders taught ancient stories to the young.

DECEMBER

CHRISTMAS gifts made & given, KWANZAA harvest festival celebrated by African-American community, snowmen & sledding, reading stories & watching VCR tapes.