Native American tribes celebrate various festivals and holidays, often honoring nature, ancestors, and the spirit world. Popular holidays include those celebrating the sun, rain, and crops. Different tribes have their own unique celebrations, such as the Hopi and Zuni’s Soyal ceremony, the Makahiki New Year Festival in Hawaii, and the Tewa Native Americans’ animal dances. The Incas celebrated their sun god during the Inti Raymi, while the Iroquois and Mayans celebrated rain. Many holidays involve food, harvests, or hunting.
There are several Native American festivals and traditional holidays. Most tribes have their own individual celebrations, but many of the holidays have a common theme or purpose. Holidays often celebrate nature, the spirit world, or people’s ancestors. Popular holidays might honor sunshine, rain, or the crops needed to sustain life. Many holidays last for a week, rather than just one day.
The start of the new year is honored by some Native Americans, although many tribes have selected different dates as the last day of the year. On December 22, the Hopi and Zuni celebrate the New Year. This ceremony is called Soyal and is a time of renewal and purification. A ritual is conducted to welcome the sun after winter.
The Makahiki New Year Festival is celebrated in Hawaii in October. Celebrate new beginnings and honor the Hawaiian god Lono, who represents fertility, music and rain. There are three phases of Makahiki, with the first consisting of purification and spiritual purification. During the second stage, Native Hawaiians celebrate with hula dancing and athletic contests. The final stage honors Lono and tests the current leader of the tribe to ensure that he is still worthy as a leader.
Tewa Native Americans celebrate three dances during the year, each time honoring a different animal. The year begins with a turtle dance, commemorating and honoring the day of creation. For three days in October they celebrate with the dance of the stag, which represents both femininity and masculinity. The following month, the buffalo is recognized and the Tewa see this as a moment of healing and life.
Native American holidays often celebrate the sun as a life-giving power, both physically and spiritually. The Incas called their sun god Inti and celebrated him during the Inti Raymi. This festival traditionally begins on June 21, the winter solstice in the Southern Hemisphere. The celebrations consist of elaborate dancing and the wearing of many bright colors. Originally, animal sacrifices were offered in hopes of a bountiful year.
Tribes typically celebrated the rain as often as they honored the sun. Both the Iroquois and Mayans celebrated rain during the rainy season. The Iroquois Thunder Ceremony was held for a week in mid-April, with celebrations during the ceremony including rain dances and storytelling sessions that pass along the mythology explaining the cause of the rain, clouds and lightning.
Many of these holidays involve food, harvests, or hunting. The Zuni, Cherokee, and Iroquois all have holidays to celebrate the growth and harvest of corn. Other crops honored among common Native Americans are squash, strawberries, and maples.
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