Post by Okwes on Jun 3, 2007 15:34:57 GMT -5
Great New Moon Ceremony - Cherokee
When autumn leaves began to fall and the October new moon appeared in the
sky, the New Year ceremony took place. This was the season of the year in
which the world was created, according to Cherokee tradition. The proper
name for the ceremony was Nuwatiegwa, meaning "big medicine", but it was
also called the Great New Moon Ceremony. In addition to the usual
preparations, each family that attended brought produce from its own
fields--corn, beans, pumpkins, etc. Part of this was for the general feast
and the rest for the chief to distribute among unfortunate families whose
harvest had been insufficient. On the night of the moon's appearance, the
women performed a religious dance. Only infants were permitted to sleep, the
rest of the people keeping vigil until just before dawn. Then everyone,
infants included, assembled on the riverbank and were arranged in one long
line by the priest. At sunrise the priest signaled for all to wade in and
submerge themselves and their children seven times. While this was taking
place, the priest placed the sacred crystal on a stand near the rivers edge.
Then, emerging from the water, one at a time, the people gazed into the
crystal. If their image reflected by the crystal appeared to be lying down,
they believed that they would die before spring. If, on the other hand, they
appeared to be standing erect, they would survive the coming winter. Those
who felt themselves doomed remained apart and fasted, while the others
changed into dry clothes and returned to the temple. There the priest made
the usual sacrifice of a deer's tongue, and a feast followed. Most of the
night was devoted to a religious dance by the women, and none but infants
slept. Before nightfall, those who had seen themselves lying down in the
crystal were taken once more by the priest to the riverbank where the
crystal gazing was repeated. If on the second try, some saw themselves
standing erect, they repeated the seven submerging in the river and then
considered themselves safe. The unfortunates, whose images on the second try
were still reclining, had one more chance to escape their fate. But this was
deferred until the next new moon, four weeks later. This was a short
ceremony lasting only two days and nights. It was followed after ten days by
the fifth ceremony, the intervening time being devoted to preparations.
Taken from Tribes That Slumber by Lewis and Kneberg:
When autumn leaves began to fall and the October new moon appeared in the
sky, the New Year ceremony took place. This was the season of the year in
which the world was created, according to Cherokee tradition. The proper
name for the ceremony was Nuwatiegwa, meaning "big medicine", but it was
also called the Great New Moon Ceremony. In addition to the usual
preparations, each family that attended brought produce from its own
fields--corn, beans, pumpkins, etc. Part of this was for the general feast
and the rest for the chief to distribute among unfortunate families whose
harvest had been insufficient. On the night of the moon's appearance, the
women performed a religious dance. Only infants were permitted to sleep, the
rest of the people keeping vigil until just before dawn. Then everyone,
infants included, assembled on the riverbank and were arranged in one long
line by the priest. At sunrise the priest signaled for all to wade in and
submerge themselves and their children seven times. While this was taking
place, the priest placed the sacred crystal on a stand near the rivers edge.
Then, emerging from the water, one at a time, the people gazed into the
crystal. If their image reflected by the crystal appeared to be lying down,
they believed that they would die before spring. If, on the other hand, they
appeared to be standing erect, they would survive the coming winter. Those
who felt themselves doomed remained apart and fasted, while the others
changed into dry clothes and returned to the temple. There the priest made
the usual sacrifice of a deer's tongue, and a feast followed. Most of the
night was devoted to a religious dance by the women, and none but infants
slept. Before nightfall, those who had seen themselves lying down in the
crystal were taken once more by the priest to the riverbank where the
crystal gazing was repeated. If on the second try, some saw themselves
standing erect, they repeated the seven submerging in the river and then
considered themselves safe. The unfortunates, whose images on the second try
were still reclining, had one more chance to escape their fate. But this was
deferred until the next new moon, four weeks later. This was a short
ceremony lasting only two days and nights. It was followed after ten days by
the fifth ceremony, the intervening time being devoted to preparations.
Taken from Tribes That Slumber by Lewis and Kneberg: