Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1916-11-30
An Indian Thanksgiving

200 years ago lived in what is now the Mississippi
and not far from the present city OF that name
Today there are but four living members and they
are in Oklahoma. But when visited, about l7l8
by some travellers, an interesting account OF this
early American Thanksgiving was obtained
The corn over which this feast is celebrated
is especially planted in particular field in the
spring, with great ceremony When 1t ripens
in July the celebration of Thanksgiving Tor the
event began by the warriors gathering in beau
tiful lawn beneath the shade of tall trees On
the outside of this gathering ground granary
called tun was built OF cane and into 1t the
warriors threw the corn till it was full
The chief OF the tribe who was called the great
Sun, was then placed in hut erected near the
granary, and on the appointed Thanksgiving day
he was borne in a litter on the shoulders OF eight
men to the feast, first making circuit OF the
ground before descending.
Then the war chief wearing white plume,
made the round of the huts, distributing grain
to the women. The great Sun and the war chief
then performed long ceremony, most OF which
consisted in bowings and loud calls, all OF which
ended in the warriors going to the granary, get
ting the corn out and preparing it for food.
When the women finished cooking the corn,
each appeared at the door OF her hut, which was
the signal for the feast. The men and boys ate
first; then the women and girls. As fast as the
men finished they went outside where concert
Of male voices was held; then began recital in
which the war chief told of his exploits, of how
many of the enemy he had killed, and in this he
was followed by the other braves in turn.
When night came the ground was lighted by
bundles of cane and the dance began. In the
center man seated himself beside pot in
which there was little water, a skin being
stretched across the top of the pot to form
drum. Around him were arranged two circles,
the inner one of women revolving in one direc-
ton, and the outer one OF men revolving in the
opposite way each woman having feather and
each man rattle in the hand Those who be-
came tired retired at will and fresh ones entered
at any time without disturbing the assembly.
The dance generally lasted all night, corn and
water being the only food used ......
At in the morning the great Sun came into
the open space, and then the war chief appeared,
both men having party of braves at their back
wearing their colors. They then began game
with ball made Of deerskin, which was snatched
and fought for to score goals. The game lasted
for about two hours, when there was great ex-
ctement and hard fighting among the warriors.
After the game the braves danced war dance
to the beating on the pot. After all the corn
was consumed the people returned to their huts
and the feast was over.
Among the Creek Indians OF Oklahoma the
New Year begin with the "Busk," which is a
celebration corresponding to our Thanksgiving,
except that they celebrate the ripening Of the
corn, and not its harvesting. Yet the idea is
exactly. the sane-one OF giving thanks. By
early writer's it was called the green corn dance"
ness, OF dissolution of ak crime and doing away
with any feeling of hatred toward others. II
! The following description of the ceremonies
of the Creek Busk, which was witnessed in Cen
eral Washington's time, fits accurately the SINH
lar ceremony Of today: II
sprinkled with white sand, while black drink Is
being brewed on a FIRE consisting Of four logs
set crosswise, to signify the points Of the COM
pass. While this drink is cooking the women
dance the turkey dance, and from noon till middle
afternoon drink is served from the brew, which
is strong cmctic. Then four men and an equal
number Of women go through the 1tadpoie dance"
while the men alone perform one called the
hiniha. The old mems tobacco is also prepared
the first day.
In the morning about 10 o'clock the women
enjoy the gun dance" while the men continue
to fire their weapons. At noon the braves go to
the FIRE, rub its ashes on their chin, neck and
stomach and then jump into water. The women
prepare the new corn for cooking. Just before
the feast the men rub the corn between their
hands and over their faces and necks.
The third day the men alone sit in the public
square. But the fourth day the women rise early,
secure some embers Of the sacred fire. kindle in
their own ireplaces blaze, rub themselves with
ashes plunge into water taste salt and then ex-
ecute the long dance"
The sixth and seventh days the men sit SOL
EMMY about the square; but the eighth the medi-
cal mixture, containing fourteen kinds of plants,
is made, and after it is blown on by priest the
connection is used for rubbing the joints. An
other odd mixture is made of old corncob pipes
and pine boughs mixed with water and stirred
by four girls, while a preparation of white clay
and water is made by the men. Flowers are then
taken to the chiefs house, when he and his staff
walk four times around the fire, throwing into it
some tobacco. ...l
Then before one of the cabins cane topped
by two white feathers is set up, and when the
sun sets an Indian takes it down and walks, fol-
lowed by crowd, to the river. Half way there
he sets up the death whoop and repeats it four
times on the shore. The crowd goes through
many performances with tobacco and stones on
the waters edge, but all wind up with a general
swim, universal death whoop and return to
the square, where, at night, comes the mad
dance to conclude the Thanksgiving.
In the accounts of some writer's it is stated
that there is threeday fast prior to the celebra-
ton OF the Busk, and that all the old trash of
the village is collected and publicly burned
There is no doubt that the burning of old cloth
ing, the cleaning Of the homes the taking OF an
emetic and the lighting of the sacred FIRE are all
symbolic and relate to the beginning OF new
life OF forgiveness and harmony.
The green corn dance OF the Seminole Indians
OF Florida has come down from olden times and
is practically the same now as it was hundreds
OF years ago. An account has been secured from
an Indian, who said that the announcement of
this feast was made in the various villages
fifteen days ahead by hanging up that number of
passed s.
At the ceremony there is , hi.cL J-;,L r.ad