Table of Contents
What is the kachina ceremony?
“Kachina” refers both to ceremonial dances in which these impersonators appear and to carved and painted wooden dolls with masked symbolism. The Zuni word “kok’ko” (ko ‘ko) refers to spirits and supernatural beings which correspond generally and specifically to kachina of the Hopi.
What are Zuni kachinas?
(Other pueblos, such as those in the Rio Grande valley, also share the Kachina mythology.) Like the Hopi, the Zuni originally carved kachina dolls to teach children about their religion’s kachina spirits, but began making dolls to sell to railroad travelers starting in the 1880s.
Where did the kachina come from?
Kachina dolls originated with the Hopi tribe. They were given to Hopi children during ceremonies, then hung on the wall and studied afterward. Kachina dolls were made in the image of the spirits worshipped by the tribe. They were not toys to play with, but religious icons to celebrate and contemplate.
How do you spell Kachinas?
A kachina (/kəˈtʃiːnə/; also katchina, katcina, or katsina; Hopi: katsina [kaˈtsʲina], plural katsinim [kaˈtsʲinim]) is a spirit being in the religious beliefs of the Pueblo peoples, Native American cultures located in the south-western part of the United States.
What are the different Kachinas?
- Different Types & Styles of Kachina Dolls by Native Americans.
- Bear Kachina Doll.
- Broadface Kachina Doll.
- Buffalo Warrior Kachina Doll.
- Butterfly Kachina Doll.
- Chief Kachina Doll.
- Crow Mother Kachina Doll.
- Corn Maiden Kachina Doll.
What were Kachinas used for?
Ceremonial dancers Many Pueblo Indians, particularly the Hopi and Zuni, have ceremonies in which masked men, called kachinas, play an important role. Masked members of the tribe dress up as kachinas for religious ceremonies that take place many times throughout the year.
Why are the Kachinas important to the Hopi?
Hopi men embody the Kachina spirits during ceremonies that take place between Winter Solstice and mid-July. The Hopis believe these spirits enable them to live in harmony with nature, ensuring rain, crops, fertility, and good hunting. All Kachina Dolls are carved out of the root of the Cottonwood tree.
Why were the small Kachina figures important in Native American cultures?
Their prominent role is to amuse the audience during the extended periods of the outdoor celebrations and Kachina Dances where they perform as jesters or circus clowns. Their more subtle and sacred role is in the Hopis’ ritual performances.
Why did the Hopi make the Kachina dolls?
The Hopi were the first to create kachina dolls as a way to teach children about these spiritual beings and the wisdom they have to share with the people. The dolls are traditionally carved from a single piece of cottonwood root, then painted and adorned to represent objects from the tribe’s spiritual beliefs.
What did the kachinas of the Pueblo Indians do?
The third type of Kachinas are the dolls and carvings that are carefully crafted by the pueblo men. The Hopi were the first to create kachina dolls as a way to teach children about these spiritual beings and the wisdom they have to share with the people.
What kind of figurine did the Hopi Indians use?
There are plenty of other tribes with their own figurine-carving traditions, but the kachina tradition is unique to the Hopi. When you see Navajo kachinas or Mexican kachinas, those are imitations of the real Hopi kachinas, just as much so as kachinas made by white people or imported from Korea are.
What did the kachinas give to the spectators?
While the kachinas perform, spectators sprinkle them with corn pollen so that the blessings between the kachinas and the people can be exchanged. During open ceremonies, the kachinas distribute kachina dolls, toy bows, rattles, fruits and sweets to the children between dances.