Winter Time Moon

Every moon of the year carries cultural stories. Here’s one we think you’ll enjoy.

We would like to thank Mi'kmaw Moons for sharing this lovely Mi'kmaw story of Kesikewiku's, Kjiku's, or Chief Moon Time:

Kjiku's, or Chief Moon Time—a "Holly and Auntie" story
(also called Kesikewiku’s or Winter Moon Time)

Just before the school holidays in December, Holly complained to her auntie. “Auntie, it’s SO cold and SO dark this time of year. But did you see the Full Moon last night? It was so high and bright!”
“Yes, Holly, when the Moon is full, it always does the opposite of the Sun. At the end of the day, when the Sun sets in the west, the Full Moon rises in the east. In the morning, when the Sun rises in the east, the Full Moon sets in the west.

In the winter, the Sun is low in the sky, the days are short, and the nights are long. The Winter Moon is the highest Full Moon of all and spends more time in the sky than any other Full Moon. Sometimes we call it the Kjiku’s, the Chief Moon.” Holly replied “Well, if it’s the highest and longest, I think we should call it the Chief Moon.” Her auntie agreed.

During northern hemisphere winter, near the solstice around December 21, the Earth’s north pole is tilted away from the Sun. During the day, the Sun is at its lowest in the sky and the days are short. But the nights are long, and the Full Moon rises high in the sky, lighting the ground during the long, cold nights. Moonlight extends hunting time into the night.

Solstice Full Moon apnlive.com

The deep snow slowed down the moose, and the Mi’kmaq would chase them on snowshoes with dogs. After the hunt, they would pull the moose back to their wigwams using toboggans. The words wigwam and toboggan are based on Mi’kmaw words wikuom and tepeqan. Nowadays, moose can only be hunted in special areas in Nova Scotia and, to be safe, no one hunts at night.

The Mi’kmaq respect the moose, and all living things. In traditional culture, they only took what they needed, and they used all parts of the moose, including the hide, the meat, the fat, and the bones. Nothing was wasted. Even the skin and fur from the legs were removed in one piece and made into moccasins (from the Mi’kmaw word mkisn.)

Learn some Mi’kmaq words here.