Green Corn Ceremony

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The Green Corn Ceremony is a religious and social ceremony of a number of American Indian peoples of the Eastern Woodlands, as well as Southeastern tribes and was practiced in ancient times, and is still practiced by some tribes today. The onset, length, and very nature of this sacred ceremony varies greatly by tribe, but generally the onset of this ceremony is tied to the ripening of the corn crops, sometime between May and October. The ceremony is marked with dancing, feasting, and religious observations.

During the festival, members of a tribe give thanks for the harvest and for good weather. The corn from the harvest cannot be eaten until after thanks has been given to the Great Spirit. Council meetings are also held during the festival, though these are not technically part of the festivities. In several tribes the coming of age ceremonies coincide with the Green Corn Ceremony.

This happy institution of the "Boos-ke-tau" restores man to himself, to his family, and to his nation. It is a general amnesty, which not only absolves the Indians from all crimes, murder alone excepted, but seems to bring guilt itself into oblivion.