Click the Banner to visit Ted and Denise's online Superstore!

Ted & Denise stars in movie "Church in Your Living Room." Click for details and purchase info

7 Sacred Clans

From ancient times the number seven was sacred to the Cherokee.The sacred number seven permeates Cherokee legends, beliefs and customs including the seven sided council house, the sacred fire which was kindled with seven different kinds of wood, and the seven Cherokee festivals.

Seven Festivals Of The Cherokee:

(1)First New Moon of Spring (when the grass begins to grow) March/April

(2)New Green Corn Ceremony (When the corn was first fit to eat) August

(3)Ripe Corn Ceremony (Mature or ripe green corn) September

(4)Great New Moon Ceremony (First new moon of Autumn-Cherokee New Year) September/October

(5)Reconciliation & Friends-Made Ceremony (Ten days after last ceremony ended) October/November

(6)Bouncing Bush Feast (Time determined at first new moon of Autumn) Varied

(7)The Uku Dance "Peace Chief's Dance" (Replaced the Great New Moon Ceremony for that year. Peace Chief wore all yellow and reconsecrated himself as chief.) The Uku Dance was every 7th Year.

Long Hair or Twister Clan

The long hair clan is also known as the twister clan. They wore their hair hanging down in elaborate hairdos, walked in a proud and vain manner twisting their shoulders. The Peace Chief was usually from this clan.

Blue or Panther Clan

They made a medicine from a bluish colored plant to keep the children well.

Bird Clan

They were the keepers of the birds, skilled in using blowguns and snares for bird hunting. Perhaps they were messengers, as many of the birds were in the legends.

Paint Clan

They made red paint and were the sorcerers and medicine men.

Deer Clan

They were the keepers of the deer and were known as fast runners and deer hunters.

Wild Potato or Bear Clan

They gathered wild potato in the swamps along streams for food.

Wolf Clan

This was the largest and most prominent clan providing most of the tribe's war chiefs. They were the keepers of the wolf and the only clan who kill a wolf.

Visit our sacred links page, which has a special message to all Native Americans

Visit the Cherokee Maiden Page

Email me

All images copyright M. Reed