Iroquois Seasons and Festivals The Iroquois Year – Divided into 2 Parts – Growing and Sleeping
Year is divided into Months or “Moons” Examples of some Iroquois Moon names: The Frogs are Peeping – Summer The End of Leaves – Fall When I Cough - Winter
The Iroquois year was named and dated by the major events within them…. In the time of our great, great grandfathers….. The Year of Katrina – 2005 ________________________ - Seventh Grade
Iroquois Festivals The Iroquois year began when the Earth woke up. First festival of spring was called “Thanks to the Maple” Purpose – Give thanks to the Maple tree and forest and to the Creator for both. Activities – Dancing, games , burning tobacco, ends with feast.
2nd Festival: Planting Festival Purpose – to plant food for the tribe. Activities- women prepared Earth with bone tools for planting.
3rd Festival : Strawberry Festival Purpose – village hunt for fresh strawberries. Activities – gave thanks for fresh fruit
4th Festival: Green Corn Festival Purpose –honored master of life Activities –gave thanks, named babies born after Midwinter festival, dancing, singing, feast
5th Festival: Harvest Festival Purpose – prepared for long, hard winter, harvested food Activities –Harvested food, gathered crops, dug pits for storage
6th Festival: Midwinter Festival Purpose- give praise and power back to “Master of Life” Get ready for a new year Activities- Naming of children born since Green Corn Festival Clean out home
What is Culture? Culture is a way of life shared by a group of people. *******Geography affects your culture*******