Acorn Dance

The acorn dance, also known as the acorn feast, is an autumn feast celebrated by the Hupa, Yuki, and other Native Americans of California to celebrate the first fruit of the year. Unknown. (1972). "acorn dance or feast", in Leach, M. (ed) Funk & Wagnalls Standard Dictionary of Folklore, Mythology and Legend. 3rd ed. p.8
== Procedure ==
A carefully selected group of women gather, grind, and leach the acorns to make a special mush. On the feast day, the people gather at noon to await their priest, though they are not allowed to look at him as he approaches. The priest impersonates the vegetation god Yinukatsisdai, and builds a ceremonial fire, heating the stones with which to cook the mush.
Once everyone has eaten, leftovers are burned and prayers are made that the crop isn't eaten by rodents.
The stones are forbidden from being used again, and it is considered taboo for anyone but the priest to touch them. The priest puts them in a pile next to the piles of stones from previous years. 
== References ==
Category:Funk & Wagnalls Standard Dictionary of Folklore, Mythology and Legend
Category:Rituals