Our ceremonies
The Haudenosaunee have ceremonies of giving thanks throughout the year. These ceremonies follow seasonal changes and the maturing of foods. The start of each ceremony is determined by the Faithkeepers in each community.
Move your cursor over the plates of the turtle to learn about the annual cycle of ceremonies.
Create new graphic of Ceremonial Calendar
1st Moon – Midwinter – Time of Renewal – Second week in January and lasts for approximately eight days.
2nd Moon – Maple Sap Thanksgiving – Opening and Closing of the Trees to make sap gathering safe – Second week in February and lasts one day.
4th Moon – Thunder Dance – Celebrate the return of the Grandfathers – First week in April to welcome back the thunderers.
5th Moon – Sun (Warms the Earth) and Moon (Fertility) Dance – Beginning of May to give thanks to the sun and second week of May to give thanks to the moon in the morning and evening respective
Seed Blessing – Middle of May and lasts 1 day
Planting – End of May
Strawberry Thanksgiving – Honor the first spring medicine – Middle of May and lasts 1 day
7th Moon – Green Bean and Small Green Corn (sweet stage) – First week in August and lasts 1 day
8th Moon – Corn – Middle of August
10th Moon – Harvest – Middle of October and lasts four days.
11th Moon – Thunder Dance
12th Moon – End of Seasons