19. The Names of the Months
Here are two lists of names. The second gives the Indian names for the months. As you see, the Indians use the word moon instead of the word month.
| January | Snow Moon | |
| February | Hunger Moon | |
| March | Crow Moon | |
| April | Wild-Goose Moon | |
| May | Planting Moon | |
| June | Strawberry Moon | |
| July | Thunder Moon | |
| August | Green-Corn Moon | |
| September | Hunting Moon | |
| October | Falling-Leaf Moon | |
| November | Ice-Forming Moon | |
| December | Long-Night Moon |
Oral Exercise. 1. As you read the two lists above, do you see the reason for each Indian name? Do you like the Indian names as well as the names we use? Which Indian name do you like best of all? Which do you think could be improved? Can you make up other names for the twelve months?[29]
2. Can you name the twelve months in order? Remember to pronounce all the r's in February.
3. Let twelve pupils be the twelve months. Let the pupil who is January speak first. He should tell who he is and what he brings. He might speak as follows:
I am January. The Indians call me Snow Moon. I bring cold weather, ice, and snow. Healthy boys and girls like me. When I am here, they can go coasting and skating. When I bring too much cold, they stay indoors by the fire and read books about Indians.
INDIAN SLED, OR TOBOGGAN