Culture

Aboriginals on Mindel Beach, Darwin, NT performing a ceremonial dance.

"Dreaming" is also often used to refer to an individual's or group's set of beliefs or spirituality. For the Aboriginal people of Australia it is the origin of all their traditional beliefs and the backbone to which their society and moral makeup are held together.

Like most races around the world, the Aboriginal people have a belief in how the earth was created. Their stories tell of a earth which was flat, featureless and grey. Devoid of all color and shape. There were no rivers, mountains, clouds, humans or animals - in face, there was nothing.?
The Aborigine say that it was during this time that great and powerful creatures rose up out of the earth where they had laid dormant for countless ages and swept across the land digging up the earth in search of water and food. It was through this that they created huge ravines, rivers and mountains and thus the world took on the shape it has today. This period was known as the dreamtime.

The Aboriginal people believe that during the Dreamtime these mythical beasts which created the earth, also laid down the traditional Aboriginal way of life to which is still followed even today. Ancient Aborigine were taught about their tribal lands and how, as direct descendants of these magical being, they should conduct themselves as a society.

Traditions passed down from generation to generation through song and dance, have been kept alive and well. For the Aboriginal people, the land and its features bare special meaning that relates back to the dreamtime and the creation of the earth. Mountains, rivers, rocks, trees and waterfalls are all reminders of the mythical beings that created them.
Every events leaves behind a story in the land. Everything that exists in the natural world is a direct result of the actions of the archetypal beings. Although Europeans consider these ancient stories nothing more than mythical, many Aborigine past and present believe in their literal existence.
Certain locations carry a particular story to which the Aboriginal people call it's “dreaming”. A great example of this is the Gagudju people of Arnhemland in Australia North. Here exists are sandstone escarpment of enormous scale that dominates the landscape. It is believed that it was created during the Dreamtime when Ginga ( the crocodile man ) was badly burnt during a ceremony and in order to save his life jumped into a nearby billabong. He in turn transformed into stone becoming the sandstone escarpment we see today. This is one example of dreamtime story telling in which the landscapes embodies the creator or exist as a result of their actions.
The ending of the dreamtime left the Aboriginal people with a social and cultural heritage. It is through their social system of rites, ceremonies, story telling, landmarks and hunting that these traditions are handed down from generation to generation.

Rather than two seasons, wet and dry, the Aboriginal people in the Top End of Australia, including Kakadu National Park, have a system of six seasons to break up the year.

Gunumeleng (October - December)

This time of the year is called the "build up". It's characteristics include hot temperatures and high humidity. Locals can experience long days of uncomfortable heat followed by sudden storms with a downpour of heavy rain. It's a magical time where creeks and waterfalls in Kakadu National Park and the Top End begin to flow again. Wildlife including different species of birds and bats can be seen flying around, enjoying the fresh new resources of food that the wet brings.

Gudjewg (January, February)

This period is made up of heavy rainfall and flooding throughout the Top End of Australia. It's a great time for animals to breed and vegetation to grow.  For the Aboriginal people, it was also the time where flooding would drive goannas, snakes and possums into trees where they could be caught easily.

For travellers on Litchfield, Arnhemland or Kakadu tours, this can be a difficult time to travel.

Banggereng (March)

Aboriginals call this period the "knock'em down" time. This is because the tall speargrass (which can grow more than two metres)  is flattened by the last storms of the season. Most plants are coming to fruition during this period.

Yegge (April, May)

The start of the dry season; when the rains have stopped and the land is becoming parched. This is the time to start 'burning off' areas with fire. Small bush fires encourage fresh growth and help to create a barrier to prevent natural fires from spreading, causing severe damage.

Wurrgeng (June, July)

Some creeks and waterfalls stop flowing and the floodplains or wetlands begin to dry up. It's the coolest time of the year with day temperatures averaging 28 degrees. It is the beginning of the busy season for tourism.

This is a good time to visit Litchfield, Arnhemland or Kakadu National Park. The waterfalls are still flowing and temperatures are nice for travelling.

Gurrung (August, September)

This is no man's land. It's almost the end of the dry season and the start of the wet. This is when the transition from cool weather suddenly becomes hot and humid. Soon it will start to rain.