Religious Beliefs and Ceremonies
"The Iroquois religious beliefs are centered on an omniscient 'Great Spirit', who they believe is also their creator. They are strong proponents of anthropomorphism or animated nature and seasons. Many Iroquois are followers of Christianity. They show great respect and reverence at the mention of Handsome Lake, the Iroquois prophet. The Iroquois people are of the view that ordinary humans can indirectly communicate with the Great Spirit by burning tobacco, which carries their prayers to the lesser spirits of good. Dreams are regarded dreams as important supernatural signs which express the desire of the soul. The Iroquois pay serious attention to dream interpretation and fulfillment of a dream is of paramount importance to an individual.
The Iroquois people carry out six major ceremonies during the year. These are Maple, Planting, Strawberry, Green Corn, Harvest, and Mid-Winter or New Year's festival. These religious ceremonies are often tribal affairs and are concerned primarily with farming, curing illness, and thanksgiving. The Iroquois believed in an afterlife and that their spirit would join the Good Spirit in the place where the Good Spirit lived, provided the Iroquois honored the Good Spirit and lived a good life.
Over the centuries the Iroquois people have survived because of their unity, sense of purpose, and superior societal organization. Until very recently many Iroquois considered themselves to be distinct from either Canadians or Americans. But today, Iroquois people live like their non-Indian neighbors, yet retain much of their culture and tradition."
Read more at Buzzle: http://www.buzzle.com/articles/iroquois-tribe-religion-and-culture.html
The Iroquois people carry out six major ceremonies during the year. These are Maple, Planting, Strawberry, Green Corn, Harvest, and Mid-Winter or New Year's festival. These religious ceremonies are often tribal affairs and are concerned primarily with farming, curing illness, and thanksgiving. The Iroquois believed in an afterlife and that their spirit would join the Good Spirit in the place where the Good Spirit lived, provided the Iroquois honored the Good Spirit and lived a good life.
Over the centuries the Iroquois people have survived because of their unity, sense of purpose, and superior societal organization. Until very recently many Iroquois considered themselves to be distinct from either Canadians or Americans. But today, Iroquois people live like their non-Indian neighbors, yet retain much of their culture and tradition."
Read more at Buzzle: http://www.buzzle.com/articles/iroquois-tribe-religion-and-culture.html