Cherokee Moons
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January - Month of the Cold Moon - du no lv ta ni
February - Month of the Bony Moon - ka ga li
March - Month of the Windy Moon - a nu yi
April - Month of the Flower Moon - ka wa ni
May - Month of the Planting Moon - a na a gv ti
June - Month of the Green Corn Moon - de ha lu yi
July - Month of the Ripe Corn Moon - gu ye quo ni
August - Month of the end of the Fruit Moon - ga lo nii
September - Month of the Nut Moon - du li i s di
October - Month of the Harvest Moon - du ni nv di
November - Month of the Trading Moon - nu da de qua
December - Month of the Snow Moon - v s gi ga
These Are Some of The Customary and Traditional Events Associated With The Moons
JANUARY: Cold Moon (Unolvtani)
This time of the season is a time for personal and
ritual observance, fasting and personal purification.
During this season, families prepare for the coming of the new seasons, starting in Windy Moon Anuyi or March.
Personal items and tools for planting are repaired, and new ones made.
Stories about ancestors and the family are
implarted to the younger ones by the elders.
A mid-Winter or Cold Moon Dance is usually held in the community as well, marking the passing or ending of one cycle of seasons and welcoming the beginning of the new cycle.
Hearth fires are put out and new ones made. The putting out of Fires and lighting of new ones anciently is the duty of certain priest of certain clans, and coincides with the first new-arrival of the morning star (Sun's daughter, now called Venus) in the east.
FEBRUARY: Bony Moon (Kagali)
Traditional time of personal-family feast for the ones
who had departed this world. A family meal is prepared with a place set for the departed.
This is also a time of fasting and ritual observance. A community dance is officiated by Didanawiskawi commonly referred to as a Medicine-person.
Connected to this moon is the Medicine Dance.
MARCH: Windy Moon (Anuyi)
"First New Moon" of the new seasons. It traditionally starts the new cycle of planting seasons or Moons. New town council fires are made.
The figure used to portray this moon is the historic figure of Kanati, one of the many beings created by the Apportioner Unethlana.
These helpers were charged with the control of the life elements of the earth: air,earth,fire,water.
Their domains are the sky, earth, stars and the Seven Levels of the universe.
APRIL: Flower Moon (Kawoni)
First plants of the season come out at this time. New
births are customary within this time frame.
The first new medicine and herb plants that taught mankind how to defend thenselves,against sickness come out now.
Streams and rivers controlled by the spirit being, Long Man, renew their lives.
Ritual observances are made to Long Man at this time.
A customary dance at this season was the Knee dance
MAY: Planting Moon (Anisguti)
Families traditionally prepare the fields and sow them
with the stored seeds from last season.
Corn, beans, squashes, tomatoes, potatoes, yams and sunflowers are some foods planted at this time.
A dance traditionally done, is the Corn Dance.
JUNE: Green Corn Moon (Tihaluhiyi)
First signs of the corn in tassel, and the emerging of the various plants of the fields. The people traditionally
begin preparations for the upcoming festivals of the
ensuing growing season.
The people of the AniGadugi begin repairs needed on their homes, and family homes areprovided for the needy.
The AniGadugi see to the needs of the elderly and the sick of the village.
JULY: Ripe Corn Moon (Guyegwoni)
First foods of the new plantings and the roasting ears of corn are ready.
Towns begin the cycle festivals. Dances and celebrations of thanks to the Earth Mother and the Apportioner Unethlana are given.
In the old times this was the traditional time of the Green Corn Dance or festival.
A common reference of this moon is the first
roasting of ears (corn)...sweet corn-moon.
This is the customary time for the start of the Stick Ball games traditionally called AniStusti, "Little War". Today known as LaCross.
Stick Ball dances and festivals are usually held at this time of year.
AUGUST: Fruit Moon (Galoni)
Foods of the trees and bushes are gathered at this time. The various Paint Clans begin to gather many of the herbs and medicines for which they are known for.
Green Corn festivals are usually held at this time.
The Wild Potato Clans AniNudawegi, begin
harvesting various foods that grow along the streams and marshes,ponds.
SEPTEMBER: Nut Moon (Duliidsdi)
The corn harvest referred to as,Ripe Corn Festival was usually held in the early part of this moon to
acknowledge Selu the spirit of the corn.
Selu is thought of as First Woman. The festival respects Mother Earth, for providing all the foods during the growing season.
The Brush Feast Festival also usually takes place in this season.
All the fruits and nuts of the bushes and trees in
the forest were gathered as this time. A wide variety of
nuts from the trees went into the nut breads for the
various festivals throughout the seasons.
Hunting traditionally began in earnest at this time.
OCTOBER: Harvest Moon (Duninudi)
This is the traditional time of the Harvest Festival, Nowatequa .
The people give thanks to all the living things of the
field and earth that helped them live, and to the
"Apportioner" Unethlana.
Cheno i-equa or Great Moon Festival is usually held at this time.
