It is asserted by the women at Bayou Lacomb that the Choctaw year was divided into twelve moons; but it is highly probable that thirteen not twelve is correct. The native method of reckoning the divisions of the year is no longer practiced, or do the present Choctaw remember the names of all the moons; they assert, however, that the year begins in December instead of the first of January. The only names they can recall are
English Month | Choctaw Month | English Translation |
---|---|---|
April | Tans hashe | Corn [planting] moon |
December | Una’fa hashe | Cold moon |
February | Hashe kapo’sha | Moon of snow |
July | Hash’ luwak | Moon of fire |
March | Hash’mahale | Moon of wind |
The year is divided into two seasons, which in turn are subdivided, making four seasons in all:
Season | Choctaw Season |
---|---|
Spring | Tofa ape |
Summer | Tofa laspa |
Autumn | Unafa ape |
Winter | Unafa kapese |