2004 Native American
(Iroquois, Navajo, Pueblo, Lakota & Cherokee)
&
Meso American
(Inca, Mayan & Aztec)
Holidays
* 12/22 to 1/10: Hopi & Zuni Soyala New Year Festival of purification and
renewal. It concludes with dancing, rekindling of the chief kiva fire, and
distribution of its coals to all homes.
* 1/1: Day to meditate for peace throughout the world. [World
Peace Day; Universal Hour of Peace: 7:00-8:00 a.m. EST.]
* 1/1 to 1/4: Tewa Turtle Dance--celebrating life and the first Creation,
when Sky Father embraced Earth Mother and all life was conceived.
* 1/4: Day ethnic discrimination was outlawed world-wide (1969); day to mourn
all manifestations of racism. [Convention on the
Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination: signed/adopted 3/7/1966;
entered into force 1/4/1969.] [Text
of Convention] [For more information, see Anti
Racism Information Service website; Human
Rights Watch website.]
* 1/15: Feast of the Black Christ. [Originated in
Guatemala and celebrated by Catholics in Central America and the Caribbean and
immigrants and African-Americans in the U.S. Pilgrims travel to the Church of the Black
Christ of Esquipulas annually during the week leading up to the feast.] [a/k/a Feast of
Christ of Esquipulas, Fiesta Del Senor de Esquipulas]
* 1/16: Day El Salvador's 12-year civil war ended (1992); vigil for true
peace, justice, and respect for the human rights of all in Central America. [The
12-year civil war between leftist rebels and the military government of El
Salvador ended on 1/16/1992.] [For more information, see Human Rights Watch report: El Salvador.]
* 1/18: World Religions Day--Day to contemplate all religions as different
paths to the one universal Deity of many names and aspects.
* 1/25 to 2/2: Iroquois Mid-Winter Ceremony--for continuation of all
life-sustaining things; celebrated with tobacco offerings, confession of
offenses, singing, drumming, dancing, name- giving, and dream-telling.
* 2/1 to 2/29: Ethnic Equality Month--Time to honor all peoples and their
positive traditions; time to meditate on the equality of all peoples, on the
respect due to them, and on God-Goddess manifesting as African, Asian, Oceanic,
Middle Eastern, European, Hispanic, and Native American. [Expands
idea of African-American History Month a/k/a Black History Month.]
* 2/6 to 2/14: Navajo Sing--Festival in preparation for the coming
agricultural season; celebrated with prayer, chanting, dancing, and healing.
Navajos believe Naste Estsan/Spider Woman helped twin brothers Naymezyani and
Tobadzistsini defeat the powers of evil.
* 2/20 to 2/23: Iroquois Maple Ceremony--in thanksgiving for the Maple tree
and its sugar. [Iroquois believe Awenhai/Sky Woman bore the twin brothers
Thahonhiawakon/Order and Tawiskaron/Chaos.]
* 3/1 to 3/31: Gender Equality Month--Time to honor both genders; time to
meditate on the equality of women and men, on the respect due to both women and
men, and on Goddess-God manifesting as woman and man. [Expands
idea of Women's History Month.]
* 3/6 to 3/14: Navajo Sing--Festival in which fields are blessed in
preparation for planting. Navajos believe Estsanatlehi/Changing Woman wields the
power to constantly create and change the world.
* 3/8: International Women's Day--Day to mourn victims of gender-based
oppression and misogyny (past and present), make peace, and celebrate women's
empowerment. [For information on International Women's
Day, see United
Nations website; A history
of International Women's Day.]
* 3/12: Day Pope John Paul II, in the name of the Catholic Church, asked
Deity's forgiveness and apologized: to Christians of other denominations for
intolerance to them, to Jews for anti-Semitism, to peoples of all non-Christian
religions for intolerance and contempt for their religious traditions, to women for their humiliation and
marginalization, and to the poor and the powerless for indifference to them
(2000). [On the first Sunday in Lent in the Jubilee Year, as a part of the
liturgy of the Mass inside St. Peter's Basilica, at the Vatican, Pope John Paul
II made this public confession with the aid of seven cardinals and bishops. See
Transcript of Confession and Request for Forgiveness.]
* 3/20 to 3/23: Iroquois Thunder Ceremony--in thanksgiving for the rains.
Iroquois believe Awenhai/Sky Woman descended from the Sky and created Earth.
* 3/31: Birthday of Cesar Chavez (1927), who won recognition of migrant
workers' rights through organization and non-violent protest. [Death
day 4/23/1993]
* 4/7: World Health Day--Day to pray for healing of all those chronically and
seriously ill; day to advocate for adequate health care for all. [Day the World
Health Organization (W.H.O.) was founded in 1948.] [For information on
World Health Day, see World
Health Organization website; UN
Dag Hammarskjold Library website.] [For information on the World Health
Organization, see World Health Organization
website.]
* 4/19: Day Nicaragua's 9-year civil war ended (1992); vigil for true peace,
justice, and respect for the human rights of all in Central America.
[The 9-year civil war between rebels and the government of Nicaragua ended
4/19/1990.] [For more information, see Human Rights Watch report: Nicaragua.]
* 4/19 to 4/22: Iroquois Corn-Planting Ceremony--in thanksgiving for the corn
seed.
* 4/22: Earth Day--Day to honor the Earth and to meditate on Deity
manifesting as Mother Earth. [a/k/a International Earth
Day, National Earth Day] [For information about
Earth Day activities, see Earthday Network
website; Envirolink website; U.S.
government website for Earth Day; U.S.
E.P.A.
website for Earth Day.]
* 4/22: Day the world's nations guaranteed asylum to those persecuted in
their homelands on account of their ethnicity, religion, or political opinion
(1954). [Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees: signed 7/28/1951;
entered into force 4/22/1954.] [Text
of Convention] [For more information, see
United
Nations High Commissioner for Refugees website; Human
Rights Watch website.]
* 4/26 to 5/3: Mayan Rain Festival--honoring Rain God Chac and His attendant
Chacmool, and welcoming the fructifying rains.
* 5/1 to 5/4: Zuni Green Corn Dance--welcoming back the Corn Maidens, who
flee the land during the Winter.
* 5/5: Cinco de Mayo--Day celebrating Mexico's struggle for independence; day
to mourn Hispanic victims of exploitation (past and present), make peace, and
celebrate empowerment of Hispanic Americans. [The Battle
of Puebla occurred on 5/5/1862.]
* 5/6: National Day of Prayer--Day to pray for freedom of expression, freedom
of religion, and separation of religion and government throughout the world. [Freedom
of expression, freedom of religion, and separation of religion and government is
guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution's First Amendment. For text and information on
the First Amendment, see
Cornell
University's Legal Information Institute website;
First Amendment Online website and
1st Amendment.com website. For
domestic organizations that advocate for freedom of religion, see
Americans United for Separation of
Church and State website and
American
Civil Liberty Union website. For information on religious freedom in
countries around the world, see U.S.
State Department's International Religious Freedom Report;
Human Rights Watch website; and
Oslo Coalition on Freedom of Religion or
Belief website.]
* 5/19 to 5/22: Iroquois Strawberry Ceremony--in thanksgiving for the
strawberry harvest. Iroquois consider themselves kin to all of Nature.
* 6/17 to 6/20: Iroquois Green Bean Ceremony--in thanksgiving for the bean
harvest; celebrated with tobacco offerings, singing, drumming, dancing, and
feasting.
* 6/20 to 6/21: Inti Rayni--Inca festival honoring Sun God Inti.
* 6/20 to 6/21: Feast of the Great Spirit/Great Mystery that encompasses
Mother Earth and Father Sky - honoring Deity as Orenda (Iroquois), Asgaya Galun
Lati (Cherokee), Wakan Tanka (Lakota) & Awonawilona (Zuni). [a/k/a
Pan Native-American Unity Days]
* 6/20 to 6/23: Lakota Sun Dance--Festival of prayer, fasting, dancing, and
healing in honor of Sun God Wi; offerings are also made to Maka/Mother Earth and
Haokah/Father Sky. Lakotas believe all Deities are aspects of Creator
Takuskanskan.
* 6/24 to 6/27: Zuni Corn Dance--for fertility and rains to aid the maize,
bean, and squash crops. Prayer sticks are planted in the fields.
* 7/1: Day endangered species became internationally protected (1975); day to
celebrate all the world's creatures. [Convention on International Trade in
Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora: signed/adopted 3/3/1973; entered
into force 7/1/1975.] [Text
of Convention] [For more information, see U.N.
Environmental Programme CITES website; World
Wildlife Fund website;
EarthJustice
website.]
* 7/3: Cherokee Green Corn Dance--in thanksgiving for the maize harvest;
honoring Maize Goddess Selu.
* 7/17 to 7/23: Iroquois Green Corn Ceremony--in thanksgiving for the maize
harvest. Iroquois believe Awenhai/Sky Woman created the Sun, Moon, and Stars
from Her body. [Rites include the Thanksgiving Prayer,
Confession Chant, and Feather Dance.]
* 7/20: Vigil for peace, justice, and respect for the human rights of all in
Colombia - now in the throes of civil war. [Colombia's
Independence Day was on 7/20/1810. Colombia is embroiled in a long-lasting civil
war fueled by drug-trafficking. Civilians are being caught between the military,
paramilitaries, and guerrillas.] [For more information, see Human Rights Watch report: Colombia.]
* 7/23: Mayan Sun Festival--honoring Sun God Ahau Kin; celebrated with
devotional offerings of food, song, prayer, and a ritual procession that
symbolically travels to the four quarters of the Universe.
* 8/4 to 8/10: Zuni Corn Dance--in thanksgiving to Mother Earth, the Kokos
(Nature Spirits), and the Corn Maidens for the maize harvest. Following the
harvest, the Zuni bid farewell to the Kokos and the Corn Maidens.
* 8/20: Birth of the White Buffalo (1994), signaling the return of White
Buffalo Woman (manifestation of Star Goddess Wohpe) who gave the sacred peace
pipe to the Lakota people. [Lakota rites include smoking
the sacred pipe, purification in the sweat lodge, and making a vision quest for
wisdom.]
* 8/28: Opening of the Second World Parliament of Religions (1993), attended
by members of all the world's religions. A Global Ethic was adopted that
condemns hatred, aggression, oppression, and environmental abuses committed in
the name of religion. [Text
of Global Ethic] [See also
website for the Parliament of
the World's Religions.]
* 9/3: Day gender discrimination was outlawed world-wide (1981); day to mourn
all manifestations of sexism. [Convention on the
Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women: adopted by U.N.
General Assembly 12/18/1979; signed 3/1/1980; entered into force 9/3/1981.] [Text
of Convention] [For more information, see WomenWatch:
United Nations Division for the Advancement of Women website; Feminist
Majority Foundation website; Human
Rights Watch website.]
* 9/6: Day Latin American Catholic Bishops espoused Liberation Theology
(1968). They believe that the Gospel requires Christians to aid the poor and
oppressed in the struggle for economic and social justice.
[The Second Latin American Bishops Conference was held in Medellin, Colombia, on
9/6/1968.] [See a
"Liberation
Theology Chronology"; "A
Concise History of Liberation Theology" by Leonardo and Clodovis Boff; and
"Is there a Change in Paradigm
in Liberation Theology?" by Jose Maria Vigil.]
* 9/14 to 9/17: Iroquois Squash Ceremony--in thanksgiving for the squash
harvest. [Iroquois rites also include the secret Little
Water Ceremony for preserving the potency of medicine and Dark Dance for
appeasing spirits.]
* 9/21: International Day of Peace--Day to demonstrate for peace with justice
throughout the world. [a/k/a U.N. International Day of Peace]
[For more information on the International Day of Peace, see
International
Day of Peace website and International Day
of Peace Vigil website.]
* 9/22 to 9/23: Coya Rayni--Inca festival honoring Moon Goddess Quilla; focus
is on purging sickness and evil.
* 9/24: Indigenous Peoples' Day--Day for celebrating the life-affirming
spiritual traditions of indigenous peoples world-wide.
[a/k/a Native Americans Day, First Nations Day]
* 9/28 to 10/6: Navajo Sing--Festival in thanksgiving for the harvest.
Estsanatlehi/Changing Woman is believed to represent life, and is manifested in
the harvest.
* 10/4 to 10/7: Tewa Deer Dance--celebrating the cosmic duality of feminine
and masculine. The Tewa recognize gender equality and honor both male and female
ancestors.
* 10/12 (Obs. 10/11): Columbus Day--Commemorates Europeans' colonization of
America (1492); day to mourn Native American victims of conquest and oppression
(past and present), make peace, and celebrate empowerment of Native Americans.
[a/k/a Native Americans' Day, Dia de la Raza (Mexico), Thanksgiving Day
(Canada)]
* 10/15: Makahki/Hawaiian New Year. Hawaiians believe the Akua (Gods and
Goddesses) were created by Papa/Mother Earth and Wakea/Father Sky, who
themselves were created from the chaos of Po.
* 10/18: Day the Clean Water Act was enacted (1972); day to give thanks for
the water we drink. [Pub. L. 92-500, 86 Stat. 896, 33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq.]
[Text of statute]
[See also EarthJustice
website.]
* 11/2: Aztec Day of the Dead--Day for honoring the departed and
Mictlancihuatl-Miclanteuctli, Goddess-God of the Dead. Aztecs believe all Gods
are united in Great God Ometeuctli, all Goddesses are united in Great Goddess
Omecihuatl, and the Great God and Goddess are united in Ometeoltl.
* 11/2: Hopi & Zuni Ancestors' Day--Food offerings are put into rivers
and lakes in honor of the ancestors.
* 11/5: World Community Day--Day for celebrating the unity behind diversity
and remembering we are all one people - all children of the one universal Deity
of many names and aspects.
* 11/12: Birthday of Sr. Juana Ines de la Cruz (1651), Catholic nun and
feminist poet. [Death day 4/17/1695]
* 11/12 to 11/15: Tewa Buffalo Dance--focused on healing. Tewa rites honor
Mother Earth, Father Sky, and the four directions and elements of life - air of
the North, earth of the East, fire of the South, and waters of the West.
* 11/12 to 11/25: Hopi & Zuni Shalako Festival--welcoming back to the
pueblos the Kachinas/Kokos - Spirits of Nature and the ancestors that provide
protection, health, fertility, and food. [Kachina/Koko
Dances invoke the Spirits into masked dancers.]
* 11/18: Fast for an Abundant World Harvest--Day to fast and commit to action
to help prevent deaths from malnourishment world-wide.
[a/k/a Fast for a World Harvest] [For more information, see the
Oxfam
America website.]
* 11/25: Thanksgiving Day--Day to give thanks for the abundance of our land
and for our food, clothes, shelter, and health.
* 12/1: World AIDS Day--Day to pray for healing of all those suffering with
AIDS and HIV. [For information on World AIDS Day, see World
AIDS Day website. For information about the global fight against AIDS, see UNAIDS
website.] [For information on HIV/AIDS and Human Rights, see Human
Rights Watch website.]
* 12/10: Day the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted, and
fundamental rights were recognized world-wide (1948). [The U.N. General Assembly
adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (U.D.H.R.) in Resolution 217
A(III). See Text
of Declaration. For more information on the history of the U.D.H.R., see Franklin
& Eleanor Roosevelt Institute website. The U.D.H.R. is generally
recognized as binding customary international law. In 1966, the concepts of the
U.D.H.R. were expanded and drafted into two binding international treaties with
enforcement mechanisms. The Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (Text
of Covenant) is enforced by the Human Rights Committee (see
Human
Rights Committee website; University
of Minnesota Human Rights Library website) and the United Nations High
Commissioner for Human Rights (see Office of
the High Commissioner for Human Rights website; Human
Rights Watch website). The Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights
(Text of Covenant)
is enforced by the Committee on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights(see
Committee
on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights website).] [a/k/a International
Human Rights Day]
* 12/12: First Appearance of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Mother of God and Mother
of the Oppressed, at the former shrine of Aztec Moon Goddess Coatlicue (Mexico
1531).
* 12/15: Day the Bill of Rights became part of the Constitution, guaranteeing
fundamental rights to all (1791). [Text
of Bill of Rights] [For more information about the Bill of Rights and the
U.S. Constitution, see U.S.
National Archives & Records Administration website and the Bill
of Rights Institute website. For information on organizations that advocate
for enforcement of rights and liberties in the Bill of Rights, see
Center
for Constitutional Rights website; American
Civil Liberties Union website.] [a/k/a Bill of Rights Day]
* 12/17: Day the Clean Air Act was enacted (1963); day to give thanks for the
air we breathe. [Pub. L. 88-206, 77 Stat. 392, 42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.] [Text of statute]
[See also EarthJustice
website.]
* 12/21 to 1/9: Hopi & Zuni Soyala New Year Festival of purification and
renewal. Homes are cleaned, fires doused, and personal restraint is observed.
* 12/28: Day the Endangered Species Act was enacted (1973); day to mourn
those creatures already extinct. [Pub. L. 93-205, 87 Stat. 884, 16 U.S.C. 1531
et seq.] [Text of statute] [See also EarthJustice
website.]
* 12/29: Day Guatemala's 36-year civil war ended (1996); vigil for true
peace, justice, and respect for the human rights of all in Central America. [The
36-year civil war between leftist rebels and the government of Guatemala ended
12/29/1996. During the war, the military killed or "disappeared" 200,000 people, targeting Mayan
communities and civilians. The U.S. government was complicit in these atrocities.] [For more information,
see American
Accountability Project: Guatemala Genocide; Human Rights Watch report: Guatemala.]
[There is not one Native American religion, nor is there one Meso American religion. Rather,
there are many. All, however, are grounded in Nature and its rhythms. Likewise, there is no one
Native American calendar or Meso American calendar. Native American Spirituality and Meso
American Spirituality varies from tribe to tribe and from region to region.]
[The Iroquois practice the Iroquois religion in the Northeastern United States. The Cherokee
practice the Cherokee religion in the Southeastern United States. The Lakota (also known as the
Dakota and the Oglala Sioux) practice the Lakota religion in the North Central Plains of the
United States. The Navajo (Navaho) practice the Navajo religion in the Southwestern United
States. The Pueblo (including the Zuni, Tewa, and Hopi) practice the Pueblo religion in the
Southwestern United States. The Aztec religion originates with the Aztecs of Central Mexico.
The Mayan religion originates with the Maya of Mexico, Guatemala, and Honduras. And the Inca
religion originates with the Incas of Peru.]
[These various religions use a variety of calendars. For example, the Iroquois follows a lunisolar
calendar (Iroquois calendar) in which the months begin with, and the celebrations occur at or
near, the New Moon. The Navajo follows a lunisolar calendar (Navajo calendar) in which the
months begin with, and the celebrations occur at, the Full Moon. And the Pueblo use a lunisolar
calendar (Pueblo calendar) in which some holidays are dated from the New Moon and the Winter
Solstice. However, other holidays have been given fixed dates. These holidays have been
syncretized with the feast days of the Catholic saints that fell closest to the traditional dates.]
[Native American holidays included in this calendar include: Iroquois holidays, Navajo holidays,
Pueblo holidays (Hopi holidays, Zuni holidays, and Tewa holidays), Lakota holidays, and
Cherokee holidays. Meso American holidays included in this calendar include: Aztec holidays,
Inca holidays, and Mayan holidays.]
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Permission to use and distribute these excerpts is granted for non-commercial
purposes, provided the following information is included:
Excerpted from
THE MYSTIC'S WHEEL OF THE YEAR 2004
A Multifaith Calendar Reflecting Eco-Egalitarian Spirituality
© 2003 Page Two, Inc.
WheeloftheYear@BookArts.com
www.WheeloftheYear.com |