The Twelve Great Paths of the Moon
A long time ago, when Father Sky took Mother Earth in his arms and
mated with her, the Moon was born. As it grew bigger and bigger out
there among the basket of stars, the Sun Dogs took turns biting it.
Snap, snap, they went, until the moon was crescent shaped.
The ragged little Moon continued to shine brightly in the sky. Spirit
Walker, who guided all the Two-Legged and Four-Legged Creatures at this
time, worried about the Moon. She told all the creatures to dance
around the plaza, men with Deer, women with Corn, children with
Turtles. On the Night When Red Leaves Fell, the creatures looked up.
The Moon was growing bigger! It grew and grew until it had a full,
happy face. But then the Sun Dogs chewed on it again and whittle it
down until it was crescent shaped again.
From then on, the Two-Legged Creatures and the Four-Legged Creatures
got used to the growing and the dying of the Moon. They got used to the
Sun Dogs chewing on it and Father Sun casting a black shadow on it's
round face every once in a while. All the creatures got together and
decided to give each of these moons a name, which are today, as they
were then:
* January, Man Moon: Soenpana
* February, Wind Big Moon: Walapana
* March, Ash Moon: Naxopana
* April, Planting Moon: Kapana
* May, Corn Plating Moon: Iakapana
* June, Corn Tassel Coming Out Moon: Kapnakoyapana
* July, Sun House Moon: Tultopana
* August, Lake Moon: Paw'epana
* September, Corn Ripe Moon: Iakowapana
* October, Leaves Falling Moon: Olulpana
* November, Corn Depositing Moon: Iatayaepana
* December, Night Fire Moon: Nuupapana
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