Creation of Summer and Winter (ver. 3) - Acoma Long ago the chief of the Acoma people had a beautiful daughter named Co-Chin-ne-na-ko, who was called Co-Chin. Co-Chin lived with her family in a pueblo carved into a high cliff in the southwestern desert. Co-Chin's beauty and warmth captured the heart of every young man in the village. Although she could have her choice, she desired none of them. One day a tall, rugged stranger climbed the steep stone ladder to the pueblo. Pure white crystals covered his clothing and glistened as he moved. Though he appeared serious and unsmiling, his face was strong and handsome. Co-Chin's eyes followed the stranger as he strode confidently into the village. Briefly he glanced her way as she filled her water jar at the spring. Moments later he was gone. Soon Co-Chin learned that the stranger's name was Shakok, the Spirit of Winter. They began to see each other, and after a short courtship she married him. Perhaps if Co-Chin had known him longer before agreeing to be his wife, great hardship could have been avoided. For once Shakok came to live with Co-Chin and her people, the seasons grew colder. Corn withered on the stalk. Snow and ice lingered longer on the ground Water froze in the springs. Early each morning Shakok left the pueblo and hurried to his home in the far north There he played all day with the North Wind, churning out snow, hail, sleet, and an occasional blizzard. Each evening he returned, frost-covered, and chilled the desert around him Co-Chin discovered that Shakok's heart was as cold as the frozen air he brought with him ' Nothing she did could warm his blustery nature. In the bitter cold brought on by Shakok, no crops could grow. The Acoma people were hungry and grew desperate. To hold off starvation, they harvested cactus leaves, roasting them first to burn off their sharp thorns. One day while roasting cactus leaves, Co-Chin was approached by another handsome stranger. He wore a yellow shirt woven from corn silk, and green pants sewn from the moss that covers rocks in springs and ponds. Flashing a smile as warm as sunshine, the stranger asked Co-Chin what she was doing. Co-Chin explained the plight of her people and how they would soon starve if the frigid weather continued. The young man listened intently When Co-Chin finished her sad tale, he handed her an horn corn' "Eat this!" he commanded- 'And wait here while ! fetch a bundle for you to take He raced off toward the south and quickly disappeared from sight. Co- Chin barely had time to finish eating before he reappeared with an armload of corn "Where did you find this?" asked an astonished Co-Chin. "Does it grow nearby?" It comes from my home far to the south, where the sun shines every day and corn grows all year round," he replied. "I would love to see your home," said Co-Chin. "Please take me with you." "I cannot do that. Your husband, the Spirit of Winter, would be furious," replied the young man. "Our love is dead," Co-Chin replied. "He is cold-hearted and has no feeling for me or my people. Since he settled here no crops can grow, no flowers can blossom." "Take the corn home to your family" said the young man. "Then meet me here tomorrow, and I will bring you another load." With that, he turned and headed south. When Co-Chin arrived home, her parents were shocked to see corn instead of cactus leaves. She told them of the warm young man and his generous offer to provide more corn "He is Miochin," said her father. "Yes," agreed her mother. "He must be Miochin, the Spirit of Summer. Invite him home with you tomorrow." The next day Co-Chin met the young man at the prearranged spot, and she asked him his name. He confessed that he was Miochin, the Spirit of Summer. This time he had brought with him enough corn to feed the entire village. Together Co-Chin and Miochin carried the bundles to the pueblo. As they walked, clear skies and warm sunshine followed them. The frozen springs began to thaw. Co-Chin's parents welcomed Miochin into their home, and he was still there when Shakok returned from the north. As the Spirit of Winter approached the village, he knew instantly that Miochin was present and that he had captured Co-Chin's heart. With the voice of the coldest wind, Shakok called out, "Miochin, come out here'" Dark clouds swirled overhead, and sleet and hail pelted down from the sky The frost clinging to Shakok's shirt and pants grew into long, thick icicles. Miochin emerged from Co-Chin's home, bringing a ray of sunshine. "I will destroy you!" bellowed Shakok. "No, I will destroy you!" said Miochin. Radiating the heat of a perfect summer day he advanced toward his foe. Instantly the sleet and hail were reduced to a light sprinkle of rain, and the icicles began to melt. "We will see who is more powerful," shouted Shakok. "But not today In four days we will meet again and the winner will take Co-Chin." With that, Shakok stormed off to the north. The wind howled and rattled the walls of the houses in the pueblo. But inside, the people stayed safe and warm because Miochin remained with them. The following day Miochin returned to his home to prepare for battle. First he summoned his friend Yat-Moot, who lived in the west. Next he requested the help of all the birds, insects, and four-legged animals that lived in the warm lands. Then he assigned Bat to be his advance guard, for Bat's skin was tough and would be able to withstand the assault of Shakok's sleet and hail. When Yat-Moot arrived the day before the battle, he kindled huge bonfires. Then he heated thin, flat stones for Miochin to use in the fight. These flat stones would produce a warm South Wind, Miochin's most potent weapon. Meanwhile, in the north, Shakok prepared by asking all the birds and four-legged animals of the cold lands to aid him. He appointed Magpie to serve as his shield and advance guard. On the morning of the conflict, the people of Acoma watched the two enemies advancing toward their village. From the north, towering storm clouds heavy with snow, sleet, and hail conveyed Shakok to the battleground. From the south, billowing clouds of steam and smoke from Yat-Moot's fire filled the sky and delivered Miochin. Jagged bolts of lightning inside Shakok's clouds singed the fur and feathers of the animals accompanying him. To this day the creatures of the north have some white coloring. The thick smoke from Yat-Moofs fire blackened the animals who came with Miochin Even now animals living in the south have brown or black coloring At last the warriors reached the pueblo. In a blinding storm of sleet and ice, Shakok created a bitter wind that froze all the waters. But Miochin called upon the South Wind, and the warm wind thawed the ice. Shakok then whipped up a blizzard that covered the entire world in a thick coating of snow, Miochin again called the South Wind, and the warm wind melted the snow. Finally Shakok caused great icicles to rain down until they buried everything in the world. Once more Miochin summoned the warm South Wind, and the icicles quickly vanished. At last Shakok admitted defeat and asked for a truce. Miochin agreed. At once the winds died down and the sky cleared. Co-Chin was free to go with Miochin. In the harmony of the moment, the Spirit of Summer offered to share the land with the Spirit of Winter. Shakok would prevail for half of every year, and Miochin would rule for the other half. Since the great battle of the spirits, the world experiences six months of cold and six months of warmth annually. Retitled Seasons and put into a book by Carole Garbuny Vogel, Weather Legends - Native American Lore and the Science of Weather. Somehow a story that was freely told by the Acoma is now Copyrighted. Go figure. Come visit us at. "Keeper of Stories". http://www.newkeeperofstories.com/ or Come visit us. "Native Village" [email protected]