Waabaagbagaa-giizis / Waatebagaa-giizis (Leaves Turning Moon) - September 26, 2022
Updated: September 22, 2024
Boozhoo, biindigen miinawaa! Hello again and welcome to part 5 of the series Spirit of the Seasons, in which I connect my storytelling art —as well as works of kindred artists— with the ancient teachings of the Anishinaabeg Peoples. Today's blog post, which features images of a painting and a bracelet made by the author, celebrates the first day of Fall in the Northern Hemisphere. This is the day when the spirits of Summer and Winter meet.
It is the summer’s great last heat, It is the fall’s first chill: They meet. –Sarah Morgan Bryan Piatt
~~ THE ANISHINAABEG AND THE AUTUMNAL EQUINOX ~~
My ancestors, the Ojibwe Anishinaabeg of the Great Lakes area, did not record time by using the months of the Julian or Gregorian calendar — which is a soli-lunar calendar, or a calendar marked only by solar months. They kept track of time by observing the seasons and lunar months. One month was the period from one full moon to the next full moon.
My ancestors distinguished 13 of these cycles as the earth orbits around the sun through the four seasons. In a lunar year, there are 12 moons, but 7 times in 19 years, there are 13 moons. Although, according to Gregorian measurement, a year is typically defined as 12 months, our ancestors added an extra Moon to keep it in sync with the seasons. The term miskw-dibik-giizis or "blood moon" is frequently used to describe four total lunar eclipses that occur in a row. The Ojibweg sometimes call this moon: Miskomini-giizis or Miskwiwmini-giizis — Raspberry moon; the seventh moon of Creation, when great changes begin. This moon rises in between the moons of June (Strawberry Moon or Blooming Moon called by our Peoples) and July (which we call Halfway Summer Moon or Berry Moon). Then there is another moon that can fall in either July and August: Odatagaagomini-giizis (Blackberry Moon). This 8th moon is when we honor the blackberry which produces an abundance of fruit once every three years. Odatagaagomin (also called waaboozomin —rabbit berry— and makade-miskomin —black raspberry) was one of the first plants put on Mother Earth, and its purpose is to protect the Sacred Circle of life by allowing us to recognize and understand the teachings that come from the Spirit World.*
The Anishinaabeg occupy a vast territory (called Anishinaabe Aki) across what is today Canada and the United States. The different bands and tribes had their own naming preferences when it came to the full or new Moons and the lunar Moons. The names of a given moon were typically designated to correspond with the seasonal and/or cultural influence within a given location, such as planting and harvesting activities, natural phenomena, animal activity, and cultural practices and beliefs. In other words, each moon reflects changes in the environment. It is also important to understand that traditional teachings are attached to each of the moon’s phases, providing guidance on how to establish mino bimaadaziwin (Living Life in a Good and Healthy Way). Because the region the Anishinaabeg lived was so large, the moons may not be called the same for all areas.
Colonial Americans, who brought their own traditions from Europe, adopted some of the Native American Moon names and applied them to their own calendar system (primarily Julian, and later, Gregorian). Although the Gregorian calendar is the system that mainstream society in North America uses today, the Great-Grandmother-Great Mystery doesn't follow the Gregorian calendar. Our Peoples traditionally use their own classifications.
It is important to recognize that our Moons do not match up with the Gregorian 12-Month calendar, because ours has 13 Moons/13 full moons in the year. So, for example, September is what (some of us) call Waataabagaa-giizis but that doesn’t really start until middle or later part of September. We are still in — what some of us call — the Wild Ricing Moon (August) when September begins.
There are two different ways to carve up the year: Meteorological and astronomical seasons. Meteorological seasons are defined by the weather. They break down the year into three-month seasons based on annual temperature cycles. By that calendar, fall already started on Sept. 1 and will run until Nov. 31. Astronomical seasons, however, depend on how the Earth moves around the Sun, or — according to our own (Indigenous) lunar calendar — the monthly phases of the moon. Generally speaking, equinoxes, when the Sun lands equally on both hemispheres, mark the start of spring and autumn. Solstices, when the Earth sees its strongest tilt toward or away from the Sun, kick off summer and winter.
Around this time, we celebrate the beginning of Fall in the Northern Hemisphere. Between the 22th and 26th day of the month of September that our People call Waatebagaa-giizis or Waabaagwagaa-giizis ("Leaves Are Turning Color Moon") — or, depending on the region, Biinaakwe-giizis (Falling Leaves Moon), Moozo-giizis (Moose Moon), Amanoozo-giizis (Rutting Moon), Gagakoone-giizis (Harvest Without Cutting Moon), Mandaamini-giizis (Corn Moon), and Manoominike-giizis (Wild Rice Harvest Moon)— the Sun crosses the celestial equator, and this is when we acknowledge that the spirits of the Summer's last heat and the Fall's first chill meet.
Astronomical fall begins on the day of the equinox. The name of the event derives from Latin and means equal night, giving the impression that both day and night are exactly 12 hours long. However, that is not entirely true. In most regions, the day of the equinox is a bit longer than 12 hours. The date when day and night are actually equal is called the equilux. It falls a few days before the spring equinox and some days after the fall equinox in both hemispheres.
Indigenous First-Nations do not go by the Gregorian calendar dates for the equinoxes and solstices. To Anishinaabeg Peoples the equinox — and therefore the first day of Fall — arrives on September 25/26.
The September equinox (or southward equinox) is the moment when the Sun appears to cross the celestial equator, heading southward. According to Western science, because of differences between the calendar year and the tropical year, the September equinox may occur anytime from September 21 to 24. In 2022 it arrived on September 22; in 2023 it began on the 23d. This year, it arrived — again, according to the Gregorian calendar — yesterday, on September 22.
Indigenous First-Nations, however, do not go by the Gregorian calendar dates for the equinoxes and solstices. To Anishinaabeg Peoples the equinox — and therefore the first day of Fall — arrives on September 25/26.
The definition of the seasons and the exact time of the arrival of months and equinoxes depend on the cultural context. According to Gregorian count, whose annual cycles are based on the solar year, September is the ninth month of the year. Although most Anishinaabeg, who follow a lunar calendar, also believe it is the 9th moon of the year, some, who follow the Generations calendar, believe the Moon of the Falling Leaves is the sixth moon of the lunar year.**
According to the Anishinaabe lunar calendar, the Moon when the leaves turn color and fall on the ground falls around the time when the Autumnal Equinox begins. It marks the moment when Giizis (the Sun) appears to cross the celestial equator, heading southward. The exact time of the beginning of the equinox is cause of much debate. For example, some say that Monday 26 September 2022 was the actual day of the equinox, which did not occur on the Gregorian calendar date due to the Kepler Shift or a slight wobble in the orbit of the earth around the sun.
The full moon that rises in September is called Mandaamini-giizis (Indian Corn Moon), which in 2022 occurred on Sunday, October 9. September 29, 2023, with the emergence of the last supermoon that year, marked the end of Waatebagaa-giizis /Waagaabagaa-giizis (Leaves Turning Moon) and the beginning of the Binaakwe-giizis in 2023. This year (2024), the rise of the full moon on September 17, marked the end of the Ricing Moon (also called, depending on the region, Blueberry Moon, Raspberry Picking Moon, and Blackberry Moon) and the beginning of the Leaves Turning Moon; the beginning of the Falling Leaves Moon will be when the full moon rises on October 17.
One could say, therefore, that the Anishinaabe Falling Leaves Moon more or less corresponds and coincides with, the Month of October. Binaakwe, a verb that means "(it) is autumn," (literally: "to lose leaves") corresponds with the verb binibagaa, meaning "leaves fall off," and the noun binaakwiig, a word sometimes used to denote autumn. Another word often used to denote fall season is dagwaagin — a verb meaning "it is autumn."
A LIST OF OJIBWE MOONS
Moon names reflect local cultures. The differences between the various regions are reflected in a vast variety of the lunar orbits and Moon (month) names. This vast variety of Moon names (including the cross-cultural, post-contact names) is mapped in below list:*
JANUARY:
Great Spirit Moon
Gichi-manidoo-giizis
(According to the Anishinaabe lunar calendar, "leap month" happens in the December-January time frame).
Start of the Winter Moon
Maajii-bibooni-giizis
New Winter Moon
Oshki-bibooni-giizis
Long (Shining) Moon
Giinooji-giizis/Genoji-giizis
Halfway Winter Moon
Aabitaa-bibooniwi-giiz(h)is
Welcoming Each Other Moon
Anamikadaadiiwi-giizis: a Westernized, post-contact name
FEBRUARY:
Suckerfish Moon
Namebini-giizis
Bear Moon
Makwa-giizis
Groundhog Moon
Akakwijiishi-giizis/Akokojish-giizis
Moon when the bear cubs begin to be birthed
Makoonsag-gaa-nitaawaadi-giizis
Short Day / Shines Briefly Moon
Gaa-dakwaasiged-giizis/Gaa-dakwaasigej-giizis/ Gaa-dakoowaasigej giizis/Gaa-dakwegiizisoj-biisim
Big Moon
Gichi-giizis
Long (Shining) Moon
Ginoozi-giizis
Bald Eagle Moon
Migizi(wi)-giiz(h)is
MARCH:
Sugar Making Moon
Ziinsibaakwadooke-giizis/Ziinzibaakwadooke-giizis
Hard Crust on the Snow Moon
Onaabani-giizis/Onaabdin-giizis
Broken Snowshoe Moon
Bebookwedaagime-giizis/Pokwaagami-giizis
Crow Moon
Aandego-giizis
Goose Moon
Nika-giizis
Suckerfish Moon
Namebini-giizis
APRIL:
Sugarbushing Moon
Iskigamizige-giizis
Frog Moon
Omakakiiwi-giizis
Broken Snowshoe Moon
Bobookwedaagime-giizis /Bebookwedaagame-giizis/ Bebookwedaagiming-giizis/Pokwaagami-giizis/ Bookoogami-giizis
Loon Moon
Maango-giizis
Suckerfish Moon
Namebini-giizis
MAY:
Budding Moon
Zaagibagaa-giizis
Flowering Moon
Waabigon-giizis/Waabigonii-giizis/Waabigwanii-giizis/ Waawaasagone-giizis
Suckerfish Moon
Namebine-giizis
Loon Moon
Maango-giizis
Heart-berry (Strawberry) Moon
Ode’imini-giizis (term used by the Bodéwadmi Anishinaabeg (Potawatomi))
JUNE:
Heart-berry (Strawberry) Moon
Ode’imini-giizis/Odeyimin-giizis
Gardening (Planting) Moon
Gitige-giizis
Flowering Moon
Waabigwanii-giizis/Waabigwaniwi-giizis/Waabigonii-giizis/Waawano-giizis/ Baashkaabigonii-giizis
Budding Moon
Zaagibagaawi-giizis/Zaagibagaawi-biisim
Sweet Juneberry Moon
Bazagwaakomini-giizis/Zagaakominag-giizis/Zagaakominoog-giizis
Mud Turtle Moon
Mishiikenh-giizis[
Egg Moon
Waawano-giizis
(Meaning Unknown) Moon
Ozhibinigaawi-giizhis
JULY:
Halfway Summer Moon
Aabita-niibino-giizis/Aabita-niibini-giizis / Aabita-niibinoowi-giizhis
Blueberry Moon
Miini-giizis /Miin-giizis
Raspberry Moon
Miskomini-giizis, Miskwiwmini-giizis
Flying Moon
Baashkawe’o-giizis
Keeps Shooting Moon
Baapaashkizige-giizis
Hatching Moon
Baashkaawe'o-giizis
Be All Out in Leaves Moon
Giizhibagaawi-giizis /Giizhibagaawi-biisim
Unripe (Blue)Berry Moon
Ishkaninjiimini-giizis
There Are Many Blueberries Moon
Miinikaa-giizis
Picking Blueberries Moon
Miinikewi-giizis
Be Heard Shooting Moon
Madwezige-giizis
(Meaning Unknown) Moon
Opaaskowi-giizis, or -biisim
July Moon
Joolay-biisim[
8th MOON (the eighth moon can fall in either July or August, depending on the year):
Blueberry/thimbleberry(blackberry) Moon
Odaatagaamini-giizis
AUGUST:
Ripening moon
Aditemini-giizis/Aditewimini-giizis/Aditemini-biisim/Aditewimini-biisim
Haying Time /Reed or Rush Cutting Moon
Manashkosiwe-giizis
(Meaning unknown) Moon
Manizhigewi-giizis
Ricing Moon
Manoominike-giizis
Wild Rice Moon
Manoominii-giizis
Blackberry Moon
Odatagaagomini giizis
Blueberry Moon
Miin-giizis /Miini-giizis
Blueberries Moon
Miinani-giizis
Berry Gathering Moon
Miinike-giizis
Flying Moon
Basikwa’o giizis
(Meaning unknown) Moon
Omba'owi-giizhis /Omba'owi-biisim
Middle of the Summer Moon
Aabita-naaniibino-giizis
SEPTEMBER:
Leaves Turning Color Moon
Waatebagaa-giizis/ Waabaagbagaa-giizis
Corn Moon
Mandaamini giizis
Ricing Moon
Manoominike-giizis
Moose Moon
Moozo giizis
OCTOBER:
Falling Leaves Moon
Binaakwe-giizis/binaakwii-giizis/binaakii-giizis / binaagwewi-giizhis /binaakwewi-giizis/Binaakwiiwi(k)-giizis /Binaakwiiwi-biisim
Leaves Turning Color Moon
Waatebagaa-giizis/Waatebago-giizis
Freezing (Over) Moon
Gashkadino-Giizis (Western dialect)/Baashkaakodin-giizis/Mshkawji-giizis (Eastern dialects)
Whitefish Moon
Adikamego-giizis
Trout Moon
Namegos-giizis/ Namegosi-giizis
NOVEMBER:
Whitefish Moon
Adikomemi-giizis
Freezing (Over) Moon
Gashkadino-Giizis (Western dialect)/Baashkaakodin-giizis/Mshkawji-giizis (Eastern dialects).
DECEMBER:
Little Spirit Moon
Manidoo-giizisoons
Spirit Moon
Manidoo-giizis
Great Spirit Moon
Gichi-manidoo-giizis [
Winter Moon
Biboon-giizis
Winter Arrives Moon
Biiji-biboon-giizis
Big Winter Moon
Gichi-bibooni-giizis
Feast Abundantly Days Moon
Magoshe-giizhigan-biisim/ Magoshe-giizhigani-biisim/ Magoshe-giizhigani-giizis/Magoshewi-giizhigan-giizhis/Makozhewi-giizhigani-giizis[29]
Big Church Days Moon
Gichi-anama'e-giizhigani-giizis/Gichi-anami'e-giizhigani-giizis
(THIRTEENTH MONTH/ "MOON OF CREATION":
Blue Moon (Ozhaawashko-giizis)/Great/Big Spirit Moon (Gichi-manidoo-giizis)) **
* Source: Zhaawano Giizhik, Dance of the 13 Moons
** Ozhaawashko-giizis (Blue Moon) is one example of a Westernized name (neologism) reflecting the solar (Gregorian) calendar of the invaders from Europe. A blue moon, in the context of the Gregorian calendar, has two definitions. A seasonal Blue Moon is the traditional (Western) definition of a Blue Moon and refers to the third full moon in a season that has four full moons. A second definition is a monthly Blue Moon that refers to the second full moon within a single calendar month. Yet another definition of "blue moon," in the context of the Ojibwe lunar calendar, is the 13th moon cycle (month) in a natural year.
~~ THE HARVEST MOON AND THE CORN MOON, AS KNOWN AMONG THE DIFFERENT PEOPLES OF TURTLE ISLAND ~~
Among Anglo Americans and Canadians, the full Moon that happens nearest to the fall equinox (September 22 or 23) is called “Harvest Moon.” Unlike other full Moons, this full Moon rises at nearly the same time — around sunset — for several evenings in a row, giving farmers several extra evenings of moonlight and allowing them to finish their harvests before the frosts of fall arrive.
While September’s full Moon is usually known as the Harvest Moon, if October’s full Moon happens to occur closer to the equinox than September’s, it takes on the name “Harvest Moon” instead. In this case, September’s full Moon is referred to as the Corn Moon.
This time of year—late summer into early fall—corresponds with the time of harvesting corn in much of the northern parts of Turtle Island (North America). For this reason, several Peoples indigenous to Turtle Island traditionally use some variation of the name “Corn Moon” to refer to the Moon of either August or September. Examples include Corn Harvest Moon (Dakota) and Corn Maker Moon (Western Abenaki) .
Other Moon names for this month exemplify how September is the transitional period between summer and fall:
· Leaves Are Turning Color Moon or Falling Leaves Moon (Ojibweg)
· Autumn Moon or Freeze-Up Moon (Ininewak/Cree)
· Moon of Brown Leaves (Lakota)
· Yellow Leaf Moon (Nakoda/Assiniboine)
· Nut Moon (Aniyvwiya/Cherokee)
· Time of Much Freshness ( Kanienkehaka /Mohawk)
· Corn Is Harvested (Hopi)
Among some Indigenous Turtle Island Peoples, the behavior of animals is a common theme, with Child Moon (Tlingit) referring to the time when young animals are weaned, Mating Moon (or Rutting Moon) and Moose Moon (Ojibweg), Animal Fatting Time (Mi'kmaw), and Birds Flying Moon and Snow Goose Moon (both Ininew/Cree) describing the time of year when certain birds and animals, like geese, moose, elk, and deer, are migrating, or fatten, or looking to mate.***
~~ WHAT MAKES OUR LUNAR CALENDAR UNIQUE? ~~
As said in the above text, in a lunar year, there are 12 moons, but 7 times in 19 years, there are 13 moons. This 13th moon is sometimes called a giizisoons (little moon; leap moon/month). In this sense, the Anishinaabe calendar is like any other soli-lunar calendar system. The Anishinaabe lunar months go from Full Moon to Full Moon; in this sense, the Anishinaabe calendar is unique, as other soli-lunar calendar systems go from New Moon to New Moon, or from sliver crescent after the New Moon to the sliver crescent after the New Moon. Leap month happens in the December-January time frame (New Year begins with the Full Moon on or after the Winter Solstice).
In Lower Peninsula Michigan and in southern Ontario, these are the names of the 12 full moons and one leap moon:
January: Namebini-giizis (Sucker Fish Moon: Full Moon on or after the Winter Solstice) (For the majority of Anishinaabeg, January 1 marks the start of the New Year) February: Onaabani-giizis (Snow Crust Moon) or Webinige-giizis (Throwaway Moon) March: Ziinzibaakwadooke-giizis (Sugar Making Moon)(For some Anishinaabeg, March 28 marks the start of the New Year) April: Waabigwanii-giizis (Showing Buds Moon) May: Gitige-giizis (Planting Moon) June: Ode'imini-giizis (Heart Berry Moon) July: Miini-giizis (Blueberry Moon) August: Odatagaagomini-giizis (Blackberry Moon) Note: The eighth moon can fall in either July or August, depending on the year) September: Mandaamini-giizis (Corn Moon) October: Binaakwe-giizis (Falling Leaves Moon) November: Gashkadino-giizis (Freezing Over Moon) December: Gichi-bibooni-giizis (Big Winter Moon) January: Oshki-bibooni-giizisoons (New Winter Little Moon; leap month; the 13th moon or leap month is usually placed between the 1th and 2th moons of our lunar calendar)
Then there is another full moon called Ozhaawashko-giizis (Blue Moon). This is how some Anishinaabeg call the second or third full moon in a calendar month; others use it to denote the thirteenth moon of a lunar year.
Other names in use are Miskwi-dibik-giizis (Blood Moon) and Miskomini-giizis (Raspberry Moon).
Miskwi-dibik-giizis is a moon that is fully eclipsed, especially during the summer moons.
The term "blood moon" is also frequently used to describe four total lunar eclipses that occur in a row. The Ojibweg sometimes call this moon Miskomini-giizis or Miskwiwmini-giizis — "Raspberry moon"; the seventh moon of Creation, when great changes begin. It is a time for focusing on healing and restorative activities.
~~ THE OJIBWE STORY OF ZHEZHOOBII'IGED, THE SPIRIT PAINTER ~~
Ahaaw ningad aadizooke (Now, I will tell you a sacred story).**** Zhezhoobii’iged, the Spirit Painter, works at night with his friend Ningiigwagi, the Frost. They splash color on the leaves preparing Ogashinan (Mother Earth) when she wears her finest most beautiful clothes. Ogashinan performs her annual dance for GICHI-MANIDOO the Great Mystery and all the children of the Earth. Everything is ripe at this time. Leaves reach their medicine time and are picked or dug up and stored for ceremonial use. Zhezhoobii’iged and Ningiigwagi work to bring color to the dried leaves and plants. The beautiful colors are taken from the juices of roots, plants, and fruits. Once the colors are mixed, Zhezhoobii’iged brushes them onto the plants with corn tassels. Their reward is the joy they bring to Creation and all people. As the leaves began to turn, Zhezhoobii’iged, the Spirit Painter, is busy brushing these brilliant colors onto the plants. Ogashinan is getting ready for the final dance, which happens every year at Binaakwe Giizis, Leaves Falling Down Moon. Wearing her finest and most colorful dress, Ogashinan dances until all the beautiful leaves have fallen. Ogashinan has then finished her sacred, annual work, and is now ready to rest, to sleep peacefully and quietly, with dignity, happiness, and satisfaction; for she knows that she has fed, nourished, and provided the food for all her children... Such is the sacred story of Zhezhoobii’iged, the Spirit Painter.
Ahaaw sa. Mii sa ekoozid. Miigwech gibizindaw noongom. Ok, that is the end of the today's story. Thank you for listening to me. Gigiveda-waabamin wayiiba, I hope to see you again soon! Mino bimaadizin! Live well!
> Read the next episode of the Spirit of the Seasons series: Mother earth and the 13 Moons of Creation.
IMAGES:
Mother Earth and the Spirit Painter, art print by Zhaawano Giizhik (2022)
Circle Dance of the Corn Plants, sterling silver bracelet designed and handcrafted by Zhaawano Giizhik.
NOTES:
*Source: Muskrat Magazine
** Those who follow the calendar called Generations Calendar or "Medicine Lunar Calendar" believe that Monday 26 September 2022 is the actual day of the equinox, which does not occur on the Gregorian calendar date due to the Kepler Shift or a slight wobble in the orbit of the earth around the sun.
Followers of this calendar are of the opinion that the Nookomis/Grandmother calendar as known by the Anishinaabeg Peoples has been severely altered by the impact of the European invasion as far back as 900 CE when the Norsemen first arrived, then the full-scale invasion of the Americas starting in the 15th century. According to this theory, which is different from the lunar calendar followed by the majority of traditional Anishinaabe Peoples that dictates that a month has 28 days, the Grandmother-Moon circles the Earth-Mother every 29 days, 12 hours, 44 minutes, and 2.8 seconds. 13 months of 28 days is 364 days which is one day shy of the the Earth-Mothers dance around the Sun-Father. According to the Generations Calendar theory, this would put the Nookomis/Grandmother calendar out by half a month in 14 years and advance until Gashkadino-Giizis or Baashkaakodin-Giizis (The Freezing Moon) would start on the summer solstice. The Generations calendar recognizes this disparity. It dictates that 12 moons/months of our calendar equals approximately 354 days, which is 11 days short of the solar year. Every three years this equals 33 full days, so the 13th moon/month is added. The calendar cycle, according to the Generations theory, starts and ends with a 13th moon, so the excess time is accounted for having two 13 moons in a row. Then every 76 years (an average lifetime) the 10th year of the cycle is given a 13th moon. This moon, according to the Generations Calendar theory, is known as "Great-Grandmother-Creator Moon." In contrast with the traditional Anishinaabe belief that our calendar starts in Gichimanidoo-giizis or Maajii-bibooni-giizis (Great Spirit Moon/The Beginning of Winter Moon/the Month of January), the lunar year, according to the followers of the Generations or Medicine calendar, begins when the Earth-Mother is reborn, usually in the moon when the Vernal equinox occurs (in Zaagibagaa-giizis, the Budding Moon, or the Month of May). This, of course, would define the Moon of the Falling Leaves as the sixth, not the ninth, moon of the lunar year.
*** Source: Almanac
**** Narrative loosely based on an aadizookaan (traditional story), taken from the Anishinaabe Almanac by Edward Benton-Banai.
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