Fw: This Week: Midwinter, New Month, Solar Eclipse, Ancestor Ceremony

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This Week: Midwinter, New Month, Solar Eclipse, Ancestor Ceremony

What Day Is It Again?Today, Monday, February 4, 2008, is astronomical midwinter, the midpoint between the winter solstice and the vernal equinox. The popular celebration of midwinter in the United States is February 2nd, Groundhog Day. In Ireland, it's called St. Brigid's Day, the day a snake rather than a groundhog emerges from hibernation to check the progress of winter. Thursday, February 7 will be a new moon, and the start of the new lunar month of Nvda Kola, the Bony Moon. There are two sets of names for the months; the thirteen lunar months and the twelve Cherokee names for the months of the Gregorian calendar. February 1 began the Gregorian month of Kagali, but Thursday begins the lunar month of Nvda Kola. A solar eclipse will be visible in many areas.The word Kola can also mean the entire season of winter.In the old days before central heating, winter was a rough time. One's age was measured in the number of winters survived. February was the roughest month, and the time when the people, especially the old and sick, were most likely to die. Rather than memorialize the individual death days, the Cherokee ancestors began to keep a single memorial day for all who passed in the Bony Month. The Ancestor Ceremony is a day of remembrance, and some still set a place at the table to offer hospitality to any of the departed who choose to pay a visit. In contrast to some other tribal people, Cherokee tradition (as it has been given to me) discourages "calling" the departed or in any way disturbing them. However, they would be welcomed and shown at least the same hospitality as any other visitor. While the ceremony is often moved to the first weekend after the new moon, this year that means it falls on Saturday, a Firepit day. The Firepit or hearth is the sign of the kitchen fireplace and of the home, a place of security and sanctuary. One lesson of the Ancestor Ceremony is to consider how we will be remembered by our own descendants and posterity. Another is that our obligations to our relatives, and theirs to us, do not end with physical death. Another is that physical death is not so much a tragedy as an annoyance. Seeing the different levels of the calendar reminds us that there a many mutually valid ways of looking at things. This coming Thursday (Tsoinei-iga) is Kagali 7, Nvda-Kola 1, and a Day of the Turtle. Nvwatohiyada!_____________________________Change address / Leave mailing list: http://ymlp2.com/u.php?StandingBear+gentlerain88888@...Hosting by YourMailingListProvider