Osee Esahtootskah Nethlah!

It's never actually been proven that we're of Seminole descent, but my Grandma Haas believed it was so. She said she had a Great Grandma Naomi who was Seminole. This always made me proud for several reasons: to have some Native American in me and because it was the Seminole tribe, a tribe that never made a treaty with U.S. government. Pretty tough tribe. And sweet that they are from Florida, where Rob and Ayla now live. Now Aunt Nicki, who's done our family genealogy has found nothing to prove that, but I've seen a picture of Nancy Fraley Cook and she sure looks like it.

So going purely on the word of your Great Grandma Haas, we're going to look at Seminole wedding traditions ... just in case.

Before a Seminole man could marry he had to prove he was a man (like by killing a wild boar) and prove he could chop wood and build a hut. A bride had to show she could make a skirt (which she wore at her wedding) and that she could clean a house.

Seminole weddings take place at sunset and are very simple. The groom goes to the house of his mother-in-law and a male member of the family (usually the bride's dad) performs the simple ceremony. The officiant says, "You take each other for man and wife forever." They are now wed. The only thing they have to be careful of is that they don't marry someone from their same clan. In Florida there are a bunch of different clans: Panther, Bear, Deer, Wind, Bigtown, Bird, Snake and Otter. No idea which clan you're 1/128th Seminole, but Bigtown would be fun and would make sense since they are descendents of a white woman/Seminole man marriage.

If you were to wear traditional Seminole dress, it would include a full length skirt, blouse and cape in bright colors in zigzag, checked or striped patterns. Lots of necklaces made of glass beads would be worn by the lady all the way up her neck and as wide as her shoulders. The groom wears a long appliqued shirt, turban or other type of hat and beaded leather belt.

That's it ... that's all I could find. So looks like we've at least got the close to sunset thing going and the bride's dad doing the wedding. Personally I'd like to see Rob and Anton come home with a wild boar.

Osee Esahtootskah Nethlah (Good Match Day)!

Discussion: What traditions of the Seminole tribe surprised you? Which intrigue you?

Prayer: Father, we thank you for all peoples in this world and the different elements they bring to our culture. We love you, Lord and thank you that we can glorify you in these upcoming weddings. In Jesus, Amen.