Tôni Kizos Wazwasa – the Winter Solstice

Among the Abenaki people, the winter solstice signals the imminent approach of the new year, at the next new moon. As elder Elie Joubert has told us, this time is known as “Peboniwi, tôni kizos wazwasa” – “In winter, when the sun returns to the same place.” This is pronounced: peh BOO nee wee, tohn NEE kee ZOOS WAHZ wah sah.

Other means of recognizing this interplay between light and darkness, day and night, activity and rest, vibrancy and dormancy are expressed as:

Kwagwanidebokak – “the very long night” kwah gwah nee DEH boo kahk

Nôwoponasik – “midwinter” Nohn woo POO nah seek

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A solstice poem…

Terraced lines shine silver,
Layers upon the cross-hatched riverbanks
Threads of smoke rise still and silent from domed shelters
No dog barks at the half moon.

Long night gone in the morning chill,
Slow light gleams at eastward door
Sun comes returning, scarce recognized
But met with quiet welcome.

A long time we will go
A long time ’til we know
A long time still to grow
Along time, ever so.