Fire Festival

This festival varies slightly across regions and is celebrated between the Fall Equinox and Winter Solstice. In Cahokia, it lasts five days, during which people dress as animals or spirits in playful yet reverent homage. Costumes honor the belief that these representations can keep allies close and prevent ill-willed spirits. Families gather to share feasts and recipes, acknowledging the coming winter and recalling times when food scarcity made these meals especially precious.