[13] Note the similarity in sound to the Nahuatl month, Quecholli,
in which the Atamalqualiztli was celebrated. See “A Central American
ceremony which suggests the Snake dance of the Tusayan villagers,”
American Anthropologist, Washington, vol. VI, No. 3. Quecholli,
however, according to both Sahagun and Serna, was in November.
The Snake dance at Walpi is thus celebrated about six months from
Atamalqualiztli, or not far from the time when the people of the under
world celebrate their Snake-Antelope solemnities. In this connection
attention may be called to the fact that the Snake-Antelope priests in
Walpi have a simple gathering in the winter Pa moon (January), when
their sacerdotal kindred of the under world are supposed by them to
be performing their unabbreviated snake rites. This is at most only
about a month from the time Atamalqualiztli was celebrated. Teotlico,
the Nahuatl return of the war god, occurred in November; Soyáluña, the
warriors’ return, in December. There are important comparative data
hearing on the likeness of Hopi and Nahuatl ceremonies hidden in the
resemblance between Kwetcála and Quecholli (Kwetcoli).
[14] Müyiñwûh, the goddess of germs, is preeminently the divinity of
the under world, and has some remarkable similarities to the Nahuatl
Mictlantecutli or his female companion Mictlancihuatl. The name is very
similar to that for moon. This was the ruler of the world of shades
visited by Tiyo, the snake hero. (See the legend of the Snake Youth in
Journal of American Ethnology and Archaeology, vol. IV, Boston, 1894.)
[15] The Soyáluña has been called the Katcina’s return, which name is
not inaccurate. It is, strictly speaking, a warriors’ celebration, and
marks the return of the leader of the Katcinas, as in Teotleco. The
Katcinas appear in force in the Pa celebration.
[16] I have elsewhere pointed out the similarity between the
dramatizations of the Snake-Antelope and the Flute societies, but the
members of the former scout the idea that they are related. Evidently
the similarity in their ceremonials, which can not be denied, are not
akin to the relationships which they recognize between brother and
sister societies.
[17] Strictly speaking, eight active, since the first day is not
regarded as a ceremonial day. See Journal of American Ethnology and
Archæology, vol. IV, p. 13, 1894.
[18] Clowns, called likewise “mudheads” and “gluttons.”
[19] The típoni is supposed to be the mother or the palladium, the
sacred badge of office of the society. It is one of the wími or sacred
objects in the keeping of a chief, and is the insignium of his official
standing. The character of this object varies with different societies,
and, in a simple form, is an ear of corn surrounded by sticks and
bright-colored feathers bound by a buckskin string. For the contents of
the more elaborate forms, see my description of the Lálakoñti típoni
(called bundles of páhos).
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account