Strawberry Moon Festival Saturday

WASHINGTON — In honor of the Strawberry Moon that will shine brightly in the sky this June, the Institute for American Indian Studies on 38 Curtis Road in Washington Connecticut is holding a Strawberry Moon Festival from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.

Early Native Americans didn’t track time by using the Julian or Gregorian calendar. For millennia, many Native American communities kept track of time by observing the change of seasons by following the lunar full moon cycle. American Indians named each full moon cycle after activities or events that they associated with that time of year that reflected the season. Colonial Americans adopted some of the Native American full moon names and applied them to their own calendars. These descriptive names are still in use today.

The Algonkian’s of Connecticut named June’s full moon the “Strawberry Moon” because of the red strawberries that began to ripen at this time of year, and is marked by a period of thanksgiving. The Strawberry Moon will be 100 percent illuminated on Monday,

The institute has organized games, foods and stories that honor the importance of this season to Native American culture. Visitors of all ages will be treated to traditional Native American Music, performed by Allan Madahbee, Ojibwe and stories told by a traditional Native American Storyteller, Darlene Kascak of the Schaghticok Tribal Nation. These stories are life lessons that teach the importance of giving thanks to the bounty of the Earth. Another highlight of this event will be samplings of food such as strawberry tea and strawberry bread made from locally grown fruit.

Admission is $10 for adults, $8 for seniors, $6 for children. For information, call 860-868-0518 or visit www.indiastudies.org