Longhouse Religion facts for kids
The Longhouse Religion is a special way of life and belief for some Native American people, especially the Iroquois. It is also known as the Code of Handsome Lake or Gaihwi:io (which means Good Message). This religion was started by a Seneca prophet named Handsome Lake around 1797 or 1799. It mixes old Iroquois beliefs with some ideas from Christianity, especially from a group called the Quakers. In 1969, about 5,000 people followed the Gaihwi:io. At first, it was called the "new religion," but now it is sometimes called the "Old Way" compared to Christianity.
Before, Iroquois families lived together in large homes called longhouses. These longhouses were also used for meetings, town gatherings, and important religious ceremonies. The Longhouse Religion still uses these longhouses for its ceremonies. This is why it is called the "Longhouse Religion."
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How the Longhouse Religion Started
Handsome Lake, whose Seneca name was Ganioda'yo, had special visions when he was 64 years old. After these visions, he began teaching a new way of life. His teachings were written down using wampum beads. These teachings spread to Iroquois communities in New York and Pennsylvania. They became known as The Code of Handsome Lake.
Handsome Lake chose several people to share the Gaihwi:io. By 1912, there were six of these special teachers. Because the teachings were passed down by speaking, different versions started to appear. In the 1860s, the teachers met at Cold Spring, New York, where Handsome Lake used to live. They compared their versions of the teachings. A Seneca Chief named John Jacket helped decide the correct version. He wrote it down in the Seneca language.
After this, the group met again at Cattaraugus to learn the correct version by heart. Chief Jacket gave his written copy to Chief Henry Stevens. Chief Stevens then passed it to Chief Edward Cornplanter. Sadly, this written copy was lost. In 1903, Chief Cornplanter rewrote the teachings from his memory. He gave his new copy to the New York State Archives to keep it safe. Later, a Baptist preacher named William Bluesky translated it into English.
How Followers Practice the Religion
The Gaihwi:io teachings are shared twice a year. One time is during the Midwinter Thanksgiving, which happens between January 15 and February 15. The other time is at the Six Nations meeting in September. Often, preachers from different reservations will visit each other to share the teachings.
A full sharing of the teachings takes three days. Each morning, before the sun rises, the preacher stands by the fireplace in the longhouse. They sing a special Sun Song to ask for good weather. During the ceremonies, the preacher has an assistant. This assistant sits next to the preacher and holds a white wampum strand. Some people in the audience sit on benches across the longhouse. Others sit on benches along the walls. Women usually cover their heads with a shawl.
The ceremonies can be very emotional. People might cry, and many feel a strong connection to their faith. This often leads them to publicly promise their loyalty to the religion again.
Different Views
Some people do not follow The Code of Handsome Lake. They believe it was too much influenced by Christian religious movements from the past, like the First Great Awakening and Second Great Awakening. These traditionalists prefer to follow the teachings of Deganawidah, The Great Peacemaker. These older teachings are found in the Great Law of Peace, which is like the constitution for the Six Nations or Haudenosaunee.
The Great Law of Peace protects the right to practice old religious ceremonies. It also talks about the duties of good community leaders. However, some people think that parts of Handsome Lake's teachings might not fit with their understanding of the Great Law of Peace.
Historical Connections
The Second Great Awakening was a big religious movement in the United States that started around 1790. It happened in central and western New York State. Handsome Lake's visions happened in the same area. His teachings came just a few months before many other religious revivals swept through America.
Influence on Other Religions
Some people believe that Joseph Smith, who started Mormonism, was influenced by Handsome Lake's visions. There are some similarities between their experiences.
How It Is Classified
In 1989, a professor named Peter W. Williams wrote a book about religion in America. He said that over time, the Longhouse Religion became more organized. He felt it started to look more like other religions that are somewhat similar to traditional Christianity, such as Mormonism.
See also
In Spanish: Religión de la Casa Comunal para niños
