Interesting Tidbits: The Great New Moon Ceremony

The Great New Moon Ceremony

October 13, 12015 (New Moon)

Celebrated at the first new moon in autumn (October), the season when Cherokee stories say the world was created, The Great New Moon Ceremony represents the New Year celebration. Hunters were sent out to catch game seven nights before the festival. Seven men were selected to take charge of all the planning and seven honorable women were chosen to prepare the food. The evening before the main gathering, the women performed a religious dance. During the ceremonial part, they went to the river for purification by immersion (referred to as “going to water”), giving offerings to the sacred fire and praying. When the Cherokee people gathered for the feast, each family brought some produce from their field to share. These foods included corn, beans and pumpkins. The Great New Moon Ceremony gave the Cherokee people an opportunity to give thanks to the Great Spirit and the ancestors for their blessings on us.