[EDITOR NOTE: remember, this public part of the handbook on ritual is not meant to be comprehensive nor is it to be the final way of celebrating or living. It is to be considered INTRODUCTORY as a means of helping those who have been outside of the culture and traditions to start to take steps to returning to the real Cherokee culture and traditions. Therefore, some things that are part of this are recent to our culture but allow our folks to gradually become accustomed to our ways without too much culture shock. We must be patient with our new members.]
RITUAL FESTIVAL 1 OF 7
Historically, our people used the moon calendar.
Unlike the Calendars used today around the world, this calendar did not have just 12 months.
Because the time between two full Moons doesn't quite equal a whole month, approximately every three years there are two full Moons in one calendar month AND the moon calendar and modern calendars do not “match up”.
Because of this, while there are some families and even fewer communities that do celebrate on the times of the actual Full and New moons, most of us, because of work schedules, cannot do so.
Therefore, we have established “national” holidays based on a 12 month calendar, taking into account the variation in the moons and the discrepancies of the 12 month calendar, forming a “Modern” schedule for festivities that the Nation is to follow.
We strongly encourage families and communities to continue to follow the cycles of the moon whenever possible as well as acknowledging the new “modern” calender so that the larger numbers of our people may celebrate together.
Communities should celebrate the entire week from Monday through Saturday ending after Sunrise on that Sunday morning, however, exemptions may and should be granted for those few who cannot arrange to be off work providing that they are present at the ceremonies from Friday evening until after Sunrise on Sunday morning and that those few arrange their schedule in order to participate in at least one of these 6 events for the entire week every year. NO Cherokee may miss the celebration of the Ugu and all are required to attend that 3 day ceremony every seven years unless illness or disability or if they are in a process of grieving, that prohibits their travel. Communities are required to make plans in advance in order to be certain that everyone in their community is able to get to the Ugu ceremony.
1. The New Moon of Spring Publicly celebrated the first FULL week of March that can run from a - Monday to a Saturday on the modern calendar system.
[For example: March 1-6, 2010; March 7-12, 2011; March 5-10, 2012; March 4-9, 2013; March 3-8, 2014 and so on] The War Dance is performed at this time and throughout the Summer till the Friends made where it is last performed for the season and not again during the winter months until the next new moon ceremony. The Spring Frog or Knee Deep Dance is also performed at this ceremony.
The household fires are extinguished then re-lit from fire kindled at this Ceremony
(NOTE: This is a different fire than that used at the Gatiyo grounds! That fire is NEVER used for heating, cooking, work or any other function other than worship)
ADDITIONAL POWERS AND RESTRICTIONS:
At no time shall any ritual or celebration taking place on the GATIYO grounds be videotaped or photographed.
Persons may not be photographed without their permission.
Photographs of person or events must not be published without the express written consent of the individual and the National Council.
The Adawehi society, under the direction of the clan mothers, is obligated for and responsible for the training of the young boys in A-Ne-Tso-Di and to make certain that this is played at every national festival.
The Adawehi society, under the direction of the clan mothers, is obligated for and responsible for the training of the young boys in A-Ne-Tso-Di and to make certain that this is played at every national festival, including this one, following the traditions of the Adawehi, the game Anetsodi, and the HANDBOOK.
GATUYUSDI
The Adawehi society, under the direction of the clan mothers and other council members, is obligated for and responsible for the selection and training of young men in Gatayusdi (or as Timberlake described it, Nettacawaw) and to make certain that this is played at every national festival, including this one, following the traditions of the Adawehi, the game itself, and the HANDBOOK.
There is also to be a society dedicated to the maintenance of the game ground for this purpose near to the official headquarters. It is to be a square piece of ground well cleared and smooth and strewn all over with fine white sand. A representative of one or at the most two persons will participate in this ancient game.
The game wheel is to be of smooth stone, about 2 fingers broad at the edge and about two spans round. Each participant is to have a pole of about 8 feet long, smooth, and tapering at each end, with flat points.
The game stones are to be kept in strict security at the headquarters, along with the game poles, although each participant may bring their own pole to use, as long as it is inspected by the supervisiong Adawehi and found to be acceptable.
The game is played to its conclusion, with gifts from the delegations presented to the winners by the losing delegation.
