Quviasukvik
ᖁᕕᐊᓲᑎᖃᕐᕕᒃ
The Inuit, Yupik, Aleut, Chukchi and the Iñupiat believed that the sunrise on December 24 marks the beginning of the new year.
Also calledQuviasugvik, Inuit New Year, Happy Day,[1] Time of Joy[2]
Observed byInuit, Yupik, Aleut, Chukchi, Iñupiat, NunatuKavut
TypeCultural (Inuit)
Religious (Inuit religion, Shamanist and Christian)
SignificanceStart of the year and the roaming of the spirits for good luck
CelebrationsWatching the first sunrise of the Inuit new year (December 24 only), parades (December 25 only), mass attendance, concerts, carnivals, fairs, Inuit traditional activities, family gathering, family meal, visiting friends and relatives, gift giving, gift shopping, goodwill greetings, late night partying, reflection, watching fireworks (December 31 only), qulliq ceremonies during the first sunrise of the Christian new year (January 1 only), Nalujuk Night (January 6), ringing of the first school bell after winter break (January 3 in Greenland; January 4, 5 or 6 only in Canada and Alaska; January 7 in Russia), flag raising ceremonies (January 7 only)
DateDecember 24 to January 7
FrequencyAnnual
Related toChristmas, Chinese New Year, Japanese New Year, Tibetan New Year, Korean New Year, Vietnamese New Year, Mongolian New Year, Sámi New Year, Yakut New Year

Quviasukvik (Inuktitut: ᖁᕕᐊᓲᑎᖃᕐᕕᒃ), is the first day of the year according to the Inuit. The festival of the New Year is celebrated by the Inuit, Yupik, Aleut, Chukchi, NunatuKavut and the Iñupiat.[3] The feast originally derives from traditional Inuit religion but in modern times, it has Christian influences.[4][5]

Timing

The Quviasukvik festival starts on Christmas Eve and ends on January 7. This festival celebrates the coming of the new year and the sea goddess, Sedna and the transferring of spirits for good luck in the new year. During these days, many traditional customs are displayed. Due to Christian influences, Christmas was considered a new year to the Inuit.[6][7][8]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Nunavut (Our Land) Episode 13: Quviasukvik (Happy Day)
  2. ↑ Laugrand, Frédéric; Oosten, Jarich (2002). "Quviasukvik. The celebration of an Inuit winter feast in the central Arctic". Journal de la Société des Américanistes. 88 (88): 203–225. doi:10.4000/jsa.2772.
  3. ↑ Quviasukvik: The Inuit Winter Festival & Christmas
  4. ↑ Quviasukvik. The celebration of an Inuit winter feast in the central Arctic
  5. ↑ Inuit Shamanism and Christianity
  6. ↑ Sex in Our Strange World: Why Christmas has Always Been About Sex
  7. ↑ Christmas in the Big Igloo
  8. ↑ Inulariuyunga; Imngirnik Quvigiyaqaqtunga!
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