The celebration of New Year on January first of each year is not part of our Native tradition. However, we have adopted the Holiday because of its importance to the larger society in which we live and because of its powerful and symbolic meaning.
Our non-Native brothers and sisters typically see January first as a time of both celebration and hope. It is a time of optimism and looking forward. It is also a time of reflection upon the past twelve months. As Natives, we share this view of the holiday. We see the larger society coming together for the celebration of life and to combine their spirits in the hope of a better future.
In our tradition, there are many ceremonies that are designed to honor the spirit of renewal. These range from the practical, like ceremonies to promote a healthy crop or a good hunt, to the more spiritual, often practiced privately or in small groups. We view the process of renewal as critical to our survival and always in the loving hands of the Mother. Without the renewal we see all around us, there would be no culture to celebrate. On January first, we see this spirit on a grand scale.
We also celebrate new beginnings in many different ways. These are times of transformation and change, representing stages in which growth and maturity are often made especially clear to us. The celebration of New Year reminds us of this vital aspect in the infinite circle of life.
What we also find intriguing and wonderful about the celebration of New Year is how it cascades around our globe, walking through time zones and cultures, binding us all together in a way that is not seen often enough. For this bringing-together, we also celebrate. For a short moment, it seems as though we are all one, which is one of the most ancient and profound teachings of our Elders.
So, to all my friends, Native and non-Native, I wish you the best of the New Year celebration. I hope that you find renewal and new beginnings that bring you the best of what is to come.
Image: New Year Dance
