[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 4 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.
NEW YEAR
4. The New Year Moon Third full week of September that runs from Monday through Saturday.
[Examples of Dates: September 20-25, 2010; Sept. 19-24, 2011; Sept. 17-22, 2012; Sept. 16-21, 2013; Sept. 15-20, 2014] but especially Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
The World is new. The Old is passed away.
Prior to this event, many fast and give away old items. No one may begin this festival holding on to “extras”. These are to be set aside to be donated to the clans storehouse or given to someone you know who needs the item.
All the homes are cleaned- every item, wall and floor is washed. Then the house is cleaned on the outside as well. All debris that cannot be given away is to be removed and burned or completely disposed of prior to this ceremony. Cars are washed and detailed, pets are washed, barns are cleaned out before this ceremony begins.
Once all is cleaned- but not before 7 days prior to the festival- the person completing the task of cleaning whatever item (home, yard, pet is washed, vehicle is detailed, etc) after each instance of cleaning they will blow a conch shell (our ancestors obtained these through trading with others) or else they may employ someone to blow the conch shell for them if they do not own one.
This signals they are ready to start.
You will hear conch shells blown often and at all hours during the 7 days preceding the festival.
Once everyone in the community has completed the tasks of cleaning, they all gather the evening before the festival begins and they blow conch shells for several hours indicating they are ready to start.
Food is stored in new containers and put within family and clan storehouses.
People are to seek out those they have wronged and to offer double restitution so that these can be set aside before the new year begins. If accepted by the one who was offended, the person who wronged them will now make the amends in full.
Bills and debts are paid so nothing is behind in the year to come and if possible, all debts are cleared.
In local communities, business issues that have been brought up must all be addressed and heard and dealt with before the new year begins. No unfinished business is to be left over.
Tell the Stories of Creation, of Doyunisi, of the Spider who brought fire, of the first man and woman and first boy, of the opening of the cave and the bear who came back to life, as well as stories of the cedar.
Decorate with corn stalks, dried foods, squashes and gourds.
Extra food - corn, squash, pumpkins, barrels of potatoes and beans-- is to be left in piles beside driveways so that those who are hungry may find food for themselves. If not taken, it is taken to the storehouse for the clan the last day of the ceremonies.
The Bear dance is danced at this ceremony as a reminder of resurrection.
There is dancing, feasting, going to water and an osi ceremony.
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.
ADDITIONAL 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.
