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Introduction     Calendar     Current Briefing    Activities

The Iroquois Thanksgiving

After Sonkwaiatison left the earth and returned to the Sky World, the people began to express their thankfulness for the Creation. With the annual cycle established by the changing seasons, the growing of crops and the ritual order brought forth by the 12th boy, the Ongwehonweh began to celebrate the gifts of the creation through a series of rituals.

The Haudenosaunee follow a calendar of ceremonial festivals that are celebrated in the Longhouse. It is through these festivals that an annual rhythm is established and the cycle of life has a natural flow to it. These festivals follow the changes in the seasons and the ripening of the crops. While the actual sequence may vary from longhouse to longhouse, the annual cycle would typically include the following:

Midwinter (Jan-Feb) - Ganaha'owi - "Stirring the Ashes" to renew all of the rituals and medicine societies at the time of the winter solstice.

All Night Dance (March)- Ohkiweh to honor the deceased.

Maple Dance (March) - Hadichisto'ndas - "Putting In Syrup" to give thanks to the sweet water as it begins to flow, signalling the return of the lifegiving season.

Thunder Dance (April) - To acknowledge the arrival of the Thunderers, Our Grandfathers, from their annual trip west and the bringing of rain.

Seed Blessing or Planting Dance (May)- Ganeha'ongwededwa'ye - "Our Seeds Be Bet" to give thanks to the sustainers of life - the Three Sisters - Corn (22 types), Beans (10 types) and Squash (5 types).

Moon Dance (May) - To give thanks to Grandmother Moon and the female forces of life as spring approaches.

Sun Dance (May) - To give thanks to the sun for warming the earth so the plants will grow.

Strawberry Dance (June) - Wainodayo - To celebrate the ripening of the strawberry, which is a medicine to renew the spirit.

Green Bean Dance (July) - Wainodetgowaso - To give thanks for the first of the Three Sisters to share her gift of life with the people.

Green Corn Dance (Aug-Sept) - Honondekwes - To give thanks for the ripening of the corn and squash.

Harvest Dance (Oct) - Doyonunneoquana deohoka - "We put our substance away" to celebrate the successful harvest and acknowledge the end of the growing season.