IndiGenous Peoples Day & The Meaning of Ceremony

We HONOR & SHOW REVERENCE Our Ancestors!

Usually "The Great New Moon Festival (held around October) marked the beginning of the Cherokee New Year. The New Fire Ceremony (held for 4 days about ten days after the Great New Moon Festival) was a renewal of friendships. The last festival was held during the winter.

There are Seven primary ceremonies celebrated by the Cherokee, but smaller subsequent ceremonies and or extension of primary ceremonies are also practiced. They are as follows: New Moon Festival (First Festival), Green Corn Ceremony (Second Festival), Ripe Corn Ceremony (Third Festival), Great New Moon Ceremony (Fourth Festival), Friends Made Ceremony (Fifth Festival also known as Propitiation Festival), Bounding Bush Ceremony (Sixth Festival) and the Uku or Ookah Dance(Only performed every 7 years).

Dances Traditional Cherokee have both social and ceremonial dances. Some surviving dances may now be held for different purposes than they had historically. As with many cultures, the Cherokee have also been influenced by neighboring cultures. Cherokee Dances included the Booger Dance, Stomp Dance, War Dance, a victory dance called the Eagle Tail Dance, Ant Dance, Bear Dance, Beaver Hunting Dance, Friendship Dance, Forest Buffalo Dance and Uka Dance." Ravenredtailhawk Jaguarxi Tips