Jipson's List of Hotcâk Moons
In order to keep track of time, a calendar stick, consisting of an ordinary wooden branch, on which was cut notches to represent the months or, as they called them, "moons", was used by the Indians. -- Norton William Jipson (1923)
| Hotcâk Moon | Month | Comments by Jipson |
| Honch-we-cho-ne-ra (Hôtcwitconira), First Bear Moon | January | The season when young bears are born. |
| Honch-we-ra-gnee-ra (Hôtcwiragnira), Second Bear Moon | February | Second birth month of young bears. |
| Wa-kay-kee-xay-we-ra (Wakekixewira), Raccoon Mating Moon | March | This is the month in which to declare your love, as your appeal will then be irresistible. |
| Ho-ro-gee-nah-we-ra (Horoginawira), Fish Moon | April | During this month the fish congregate and travel in schools. |
| My-ta-woos-he-ra (Mytawushira), Earth Drying Moon | May | This is also called "the Digging Moon". |
| My-ra-oon-we-ra (Myra'ûwira), Cultivating Moon | June | This was the month when the Indians hoed their corn and other crops. |
| Wo-xooch-we-ra (Waxutcwira), Corn Tasselling Moon | July | - |
| Wa-ta-jox-he-we-ra (Watadjoxhiwira), Corn Popping Moon | August | This is the roasting ear month, the ears roasted over the camp fire making a popping sound as the kernels break from the heat. |
| Ho-wy-shook-we-ra (Howycukwira), Elk Calling Moon | September | The elk's call for its mate can be heard. [See the next entry for an alternate name for this month.] |
| Ho-zaza-kay-we-ra (Hozazakewira), Bobolink's Song Moon | September | So called as the bobolinks song is so frequently heard. [See previous entry for an alternate name for this month.] |
| Cha-ay-na-xo-we-ra (Tca[m]ainaxowira) Deer Digging Moon | October | In this month the deer have a habit of scratching the earth with the hoof. |
| Cha-kee-roo-xay-we-ra (Tcakiruxewira), Deer Mating Moon | November | - |
| Cha-hayo-wa-ksho-we-ra (Tcaheyowakcowira), Deer Antler Shedding Moon | December | - |
Return to "Moons".
Source
Norton William Jipson, Story of the Winnebagos (Chicago: The Chicago Historical Society, 1923) 413-414.