Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1884-09-30
-1r GREEN CORN DANCE.
-..,e-F4onored Indian Fcs-
4 ~ tival Described.
IL ne Sacred Fire FolIOaod by
Dsa@'7 Three Days Feasting.

uranhically describes an annual
~ s;oal celebration: Fifty years
~" Green Corn Festival was
s Y annual pastime among the
c 80 Wyandottes and other tribes
,s.a religious significance. of course,
-. Was regarded in the light Of a New
-, y.,ys celebration. There was no fixed
,,,s Cor t,but every summer just when
!. Green corn was ripening the Chiefs
!. IN. m order for the making of
~ pottery, and second order naming
y 3ay for the opening Of the festivi-
tes. .
psoners laden with bundles Of small
.;.ts carried them to all parts Of the
..bo Each bundle had as many sticks
], ,bere we're days intervening between
4, reception and the beginning Of the
f,styal. As the days passed the sticks
ro,a thrown aside until the last vas
..,cbed when preparations were made
brthedeparture tothe festival grounds.
These were selec cd remote from any
A.bitation andnear the bank ofastream.
Four log houses were constructed on
the grounds in such a manner that
they inclosed large square. entrance
lowhich was had through wide spaces
between the houses. Each house
oocned on this square, which was filed
with now earth. The Enclosure was
sacred, and the print Of no foot touched
4 until the opening of the ceremonies.
Rude splotches of paint were on the
buildings, and from tall poles claws
and feathers were displayed. Here
the men, women and children of the
tribe congregated, and early on the
date announced the trouble began. as
the mnstrels were wont TO say. Pre-
viOus to this there had been fasting.
and from now on until the close of the
festival the men and women lived
apart
When the square was ready all the
fires in the surrounding towns were
Cxtnguished, and the houses swept
and washed. EEmities were forgotten
and crimes were overlooked-thc
criminal who succeeded in sneaking
into the crowd at tho
square being at once granted fun alb
solution for his offense.
The first ceremony of the festival
was lighting the sacred fire. A square
board with circular hollow was pro-
duced, and the ashes of the forest tree
q of dry leaves were placed in the
hollow. The Chiefs then took turns
at whirling sticks until a flame was
produced. From this flame bits of
wood we're lighted to convey fire to
their homes Wood was then heaped
upon the original fire in the square, a
new pct was brought. and what was
calel The black drink brewed. Two
Hnes OF warriors danced up to and
Oae6 from the boiling pot, uttering
low chant and winding up with a war
0aOop Then two Chiefs took gourds
ala drank some of the inky brew.
Tue warriors drank afterward, and al
a'S IS suddenly elected the draught.
Se"lng 1t all over the new earth. An
"aer dance followed, which was in
elfapted suddenly by wild shouts, as
ny warriors pursued one Of their
aUnOer who had dropped a hat or rib
WI OF something into the river, ssrik-
y a. aim when they could, and only
easing their efforts at violence when
'' plunged into the water. Return
* % the square. the dance was re-
aSSea' Then during the day there
's's Oall play, and the bear dance. the
g4''Oer dance and the buffalo dance.
seca OF which the Indians covered
1snsslves with tie skins OF the ami
: "a whose honor they were dancing.
!. ~ Jays celebration closed with
~ u iortitude. to which children of
.. IN l0ur to twelve years were sub
eO' The children were carried in
I 20 square. and the breast and limbs
N ss'A'ed with sail needles. avis and
A4uEC