Monday, December 20, 2010

Dakotah Calendar

Recently at the Gideon Pond Historical Center in Bloomington, Minnesota we attended a gathering introducing us to the 2011 Dakotah version of the calendar. The names describe the Minnesota Prairie seasons. January is the Hard Moon (Witehi wi); February is the Raccoon Moon (Wicata wi); March is the Sore Eyes Moon (Istawicayiazan wi); April is the Geese Egg Laying Moon (Magaokada wi); May is the Planting Moon (Wozukpi wi); June is the Strawberry Moon (Wazustecasa wi); July is the Chokecherry Moon (Canpasa wi); August is the Harvest Moon (Wasuntun wi); September is the Corn Harvest Moon (Wayuksapi wi); October is the Shaking Off Leaves Moon ( Canwapakasna wi); November is the Deer Antler Shedding Moon (Tahecapsun wi); December is the Trees Popping Moon (Cankapopa wi). Diacritical marks are not used with the Dakotah names because this format does support them)

The same natural weather patterns prevailed at the Jeffers Petroglyphs site.