Maize Magic in American Folklore 277 



without first touching it to the baby's cheek. Not to do this 

 will cause the child to be freckled. 



All of the North American Indian tribes made maize medi- 

 cine. Many of them observed the custom of cutting the um- 

 bilical cord over an ear of corn. The ear was carefully wrapped 

 up and saved to be given to the child for his first sowing. The 

 first toy an Indian child played with was frequently a doll 

 made of a corncob with a butternut head, and dressed in 

 fringed husks. These were "gaga"; that is, meant for amuse- 

 ment. But they were also representations of Loose Feet, the 

 friendly spirit which watched over children at play. 



The Iroquois, who amassed such notorious corn wealth, 

 held a corn-planting festival each year. Prior to this, the 

 women chose one of their number to be the "corn mother" 

 and to direct the work in the fields that summer. She de- 

 cided whose field should be worked and planted first, and she 

 saw to the soaking of the seed in a solution of water and 

 hellebore root. When a thieving crow got one of these kernels, 

 he flapped and fluttered drunkenly over the field, to the 

 squaws' derisive laughter. 



When the ears were formed, and the kernels were filling 

 with sweet milk, then came six days of Green Corn Thanks- 

 giving. The villagers marched in procession around the fields, 

 carrying armfuls of corn, cakes of cornbread and kettles of corn 

 soup. These were offered to the three spirits of the maize, 

 "our sustainers." At sunset each day there was a feast of 

 roasting ears, roasted pig or a roasted puppy. 



The Natchez, living along the lower Mississippi, had a year 

 of thirteen months, each one dedicated to the food eaten 

 during those four weeks and which had been hunted or har- 

 vested during the previous month. The year began in March 

 with the Moon of the Deer. After this came in succession: 



The Strawberry Moon 

 The Moon of Old Corn 



