Morning Star Ceremony

  • World Religious Beliefs
  • 1 min

By Crusader1307

The somewhat ''ancient'' ritualistic practice known as ''The Morning Star Ceremony'' (English Translation), was a Native American practice of The Pawnee Tribe. First becoming known to European Explorers and later ''witnessed in 1815 – the practice involved a form of worship and appeasement of The ''Great Spirit Creator''. The personification of such was The Planet Venus, called ''The Morning Star'', due to it's brilliance (glow) in the early morning horizon (at certain times in The Season). The Pawnee felt, that if their peoples were suffering due to plague and famine – The ''Great Spirit'' was angry or displeased in some way. As such, it was felt – that to sacrifice a virgin ''child'' (female) to The Deity, The Tribe would be spared further suffering. Generally, it was thought to be a great honor to be asked to ''offer'' One's daughter (normally no older than 12 years), in the ''ceremony''. The entire Tribe would turn out for a week long ceremony of prayer, with the ''final offering'', being the child selected. Dispatched by a blade (performed by a Shaman/Medicine Man) – great ceremony and honor was performed to the child's remains, being buried with all the fanfare of a ''Great Chief''. The ritual was no longer performed by the 1830s – owing more so to Tribal Wars and the continuing struggles with an encrouching US Government and it's Settlers into Pawnee Lands.