Native American Christmas Customs

Traditional American Indians are raised to respect the Christian Star and the birth of the first Indian Spiritual Leader. He was a Star Person and Avatar. His name was Jesus. He was a Hebrew, a Red Man. He received his education from the wilderness. John the Baptist, Moses, and other excellent teachers that came before Jesus provided an educational foundation with the Holistic Method.

Everyday is our Christmas. Every meal is our Christmas. At every meal we take a little portion of the food we are eating, and we offer it to the spirit world on behalf of the four legged, and the winged, and the two legged. We pray--not the way most Christians pray-- but we thank the Grandfathers, the Spirit, and the Guardian Angel.

The Indian Culture is actually grounded in the traditions of a Roving Angel. The life-ways of Roving Angels are actually the way Indian People live. They hold out their hands and help the sick and the needy. They feed and clothe the poor. We have high respect for the avatar because we believe that it is in giving that we receive.

 

First Native American Christmas Carol

The first written Native American Christmas carol was written down by a Jesuit missionary priest, Friar Jean de Brebeuf, around 1640-41, for the Huron Indians. The Huron’s built a small chapel of fir trees and bark in honor of the manger at Bethlehem. This became the 'stable' where Jesus was born. Some Herons traveled as much as two days to be there for the Christmas celebration.

The animals at the manger were the Fox, the Buffalo and the Bear. The Huron’s also made a traditional tent of skins and their nativity figures were all dressed as Native Americans. This Huron Carol, originally written in the Huron language and later translated to French, has become a well known and much loved carol today.

Within a lodge of broken bark The tender Babe was found, A ragged robe of rabbit skin Wrapped His beauty 'round; But as the hunter braves drew nigh, The angel song rang loud and high: Jesus, your King is born, Jesus is born, In excelsis gloria.

 

A December to Remember

Pickles Gap Village will be holding special Christmas celebrations on three weekends in December, December 5th, 12th and 19th. A December to Remember is the theme of this year’s celebrations and there are some great activities and special sales planned. Pickles Gap Village would like to invite all of the Arkansas Cherokee Nation Tribal members to attend on Saturday December 5th, when the Apache Nation of Oklahoma will be bringing some of their youth to sing Christmas Carols in their native tongue. The twelve carolers will be at Pickles Gap Village all day on the 5th and will sing at noon, three o’clock and six o’clock. Everyone is encouraged to bring six nonperishable food items and you will receive a 25% discount off at any store or restaurant within the village. (Other discounts do not apply.) All food items will be donated to the Bethlehem House in Conway, AR. These items will be used to feed and provide groceries to needy families in surrounding communities. If anyone has any questions, please feel free to contact Pickles Gap Village at (501) 327-8049.