Kachinas of the Southwest: Dances, Dolls, and Rain |
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| Kachinas are an important part of Hopi religious ceremonies. The name Kachina itself means “spirit father” or “life father” (kachii, life or spirit; na, father) and indicates their importance to the Hopi people as bringers of rain. Kachina spirits dwell in the San Francisco Peaks near Flagstaff, Arizona for half the year, and spend the other half on the mesas visiting with the Hopi. The time the Kachinas spend with the Hopi is known as “Kachina season.” The word kachina is used to reference at least three manifestations in Hopi culture. A kachina is a spirit that brings rain to the Hopi people. A kachina dancer has the sacred role of representing a Kachina spirit in ceremonial dances. During the dances, a Kachina dancer wears a mask and costume to look more like the Kachina and may hold a rattle or other object. A Kachina doll, or kachin tihü, is a depiction of a masked dancer. The Kachina dancer and the Kachina doll both symbolize the Kachina spirit. As symbols, the Kachina dancers and dolls are important parts of Hopi society that remind people of the divine. The group of people who interact closest with the Kachina spirits are known as the Kachina cult. A cult in the anthropological sense of the word is defined as a group that has beliefs and practices that involve supernatural powers. The word does not carry the negative connotation it has in Western society. Not every Hopi is a member of the Kachina cult and thus cannot join the initiated to participate in ceremonies in the kivas, although any Hopi may watch the ceremonies performed in the plazas. The most important role Kachinas fulfill during Kachina Season is bringing rain to the mesas. Other significant purposes they have are to teach the Hopi important lessons and promote the Hopi way of life. |
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