Festivals

Indigenous peoples of North America usually had celebrations at the end of and the beginning of hunting seasons. Thus, the Alutiiq Eskimos in southern Alaska opened the festival season in October after the end of the sea animals hunting season. Celebrations marked all important events of the life cycle: reaching virility, weddings, funerals, etc., and were organized on account of planned or completed military campaigns, after concluding rules of inter-group exchanges and trade. Celebrations included commemorations of the dead, honoring the legendary ancestors as well as shaman rituals meant to provide for successful hunting. Young men and women got together and entered into marriages. Celebrations lasted for as long as there was enough food. Their main element was holy rituals basing on certain religious beliefs. It was believed that ritual songs and dances that were performed during celebrations were received from spirits, ancestors or animals. Performing rituals was an act of respect to spirits. In return people expected from them granting them profusion and luck.

Woman in ritual costume. Canada, Vancouver. The Kwakiutl. Yu. P. Averkieva. 1930		Headman of the Tlingits in ceremonial wear. Drawing by M.Tihanov. 1918.