Each month this year we’re sharing some insight into the traditional Diné, or Navajo, Calendar.
In Navajo, September is known as the Ripening of the Late Crops, Bini’ant’aatsoh. The crops are now in their final stages of growing. Navajos are continually picking the ripened corn, squash, melons, chili peppers and other fruits of their fields. The fruit trees are also bearing their fruits to be picked and shared.
In the early days in some parts of Navajoland, the people traveled by wagons and horseback to nearby Pueblo villages to trade their fattened lambs and goats for the Pueblo peoples’ ripened crops and fruits. The fattened lambs were also taken to the trading posts to pay off the family debt.
Grandparent’s Day is in September, and Navajos have two different ways to say grandparents: Grandfather - shinálí (paternal), shicheii (maternal)
Grandmother - shinálí (paternal), shimásání (maternal)
“Using myself as an example, I have 5 shinali (5 grandkids) from my son. I refer to them as my nali’s. My daughter doesn’t have any kids but when she does, I will refer to them as my masani, maternal granddaughter, and cheii maternal grandson. We have distinct words for our grandchildren.”
Thank you very much to the park’s Administrative Officer, Matilda, for sharing her knowledge and stories.
Happy Grandparent’s Day! How will you celebrate this year?
Image descriptions: 1. Happy Grandparents Day! Two rangers walking on the trail between the great house and the site of the old fruit orchards. NPS Photo. 2. A historic peach orchard in Canyon del Muerto within Canyon de Chelly National Monument (no date). NPS Photo. 3. Baskets of fresh peaches. NPS Photo/Jamie Mansfield.
Original source can be found here.
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