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{{short description|Zuni ceremonial dance}}
{{Wikify|date=April 2009}}
{{distinguish|text=[[Shalakho]], a popular folk dance of the [[Caucasus]] region}}
{{Refimprove|date=September 2009}}
{{other uses}}
:''For other uses see [[Shalako (disambiguation)]]''
'''Shalako''' is a series of [[dance]]s and ceremonies conducted by the Native American [[Zuni people]] for the Zuni people at the [[winter solstice]], typically following the [[harvest]]. The Shalako ceremony and feast has been closed to non-native peoples since 1990.<ref name=every>[http://www.everyculture.com/North-America/Zuni-Religion-and-Expressive-Culture.html "Zuni - Religion and Expressive Culture."] (retrieve 21 Nov 2011)</ref> However, non-native peoples may be invited as guests by a Zuni tribal member.


[[Nancy Bonvillain]] described the Shalakos, "They brought good fortune, abundant crops, and many children."<ref name="nb">{{cite book |last1=Bonvillain |first1=Nancy |title=The Zuni |date=2011 |publisher=Chelsea House |location=New York |isbn=9781604137996 |pages=36–37}}</ref> They are chosen at Winter Solstice, when they begin to learn the chants they will recite in the early December ceremony.<ref name=bw/>
'''Shalako''' is a series of [[dance]]s and ceremonies conducted by the [[Zuni people]] at the [[winter solstice]], typically following the harvest. It is notable in that, unlike many other Zuni ceremonies that are closed to outsiders, non-Zuni are often invited to visit and watch portions of the Shalako dances. The American fascination with these ceremonies, dances, and proto-[[New Age]] [[mysticism]] focused on Native American spiritual beliefs caused the word "Shalako" to be used as a place name or otherwise associated with ephemera of the frontier days of the American Southwest.


The Shálako festival, on or about December 1, is a remarkable sacred drama, enacted in the open for the double purpose of invoking the divine blessing upon certain newly-built houses, and of rendering thanks to the gods for the harvests of the year. The exact date of the Shálako is fixed each year by a formula of the Zuni Bow priests, which traditionally was the 49th day past the tenth full moon, but has been altered to the weekend nearest the 49th day past the tenth full moon, as many Zuni people work away from their Reservation at jobs that do not allow them weekdays off. The official publication of the date is not made until the eighth evening before the event. The immediate effect of this announcement, which is given out by ten people in the principal plazas, is to quicken the easy-going life of the old pueblo into a bustle of industry.
The Shálako festival, on or about December 1, is a remarkable sacred drama, enacted in the open for the double purpose of invoking the divine blessing upon certain newly built houses, and of rendering thanks to the gods for the harvests of the year. The exact date of the Shálako is fixed each year by a formula of the Zuni Bow priests, which traditionally was the 49th day past the tenth [[full moon]], but has been altered to the weekend nearest the 49th day past the tenth full moon, as many Zuni people work away from their [[Indian reservation|Reservation]] at jobs that do not allow them weekdays off. The official publication of the date is not made until the eighth evening before the event. The immediate effect of this announcement, which is given out by ten people in the principal plazas, is to quicken the easy-going life of the old [[pueblo]] into a bustle of industry.{{citation needed|date=December 2020}}

==The Koyemshi==
Nine offspring and the father, Awan Tatchu, constitute the Koyemshi of [[Zuni mythology]], who accompany and interpret the [[kachina]]s. The children have characteristics of their father, [[Dun gene|dun-colored]] and marked with welts, they include Awan Pekwin (Priest-speaker of the Sun), Awan Pithlashiwanni (Bow Priest-warrior), Eshotsi (the Bat), Itsepasha (the Glum or Aggrieved), Kalutsi (the Suckling), Tsathlashi (Old-youth), Muyapona (Wearer of the Eyelets of Invisibility), Posuki (the Pouter), and Nalashi (Aged Buck).<ref name="bw">{{cite book |last1=Wright |first1=Barton |title=Patterns and Sources of Zuni Kachinas |date=1988 |publisher=Hamsen Publishing Company |isbn=9780960132249 |pages=42-45,80-101}}</ref><ref name="fc2">{{cite book |last1=Cushing |first1=Frank |title=Outlines of Zuni Creation Myths |date=1896 |location=Pennsylvania |isbn=9781508654377 |pages=401–403}}</ref><ref name="fc">{{cite book |last1=Cushing |first1=Frank |title=The Mythic World of the Zuni |date=1988 |publisher=University of New Mexico Press |location=Albuquerque |isbn=9780826313874 |pages=49–51}}</ref>

==Council of the Gods==
Shulawitsi, Little Fire God, and his father, Shulawatsi An Tatchu, precede the Shalako. Shulawitsi, portrayed by a young boy carrying cedar bark torches, lights preparatory fires. They are followed by Saiyatasha or Longhorn, Rain Priest of the North, and Hututu, Rain Priest of the South, accompanied by a Yamuhakto, their helpers. All are protected by the Salimopia, Warriors of the Six Directions. They are called Salimopia Shelow'ona (from the south), Salimopia Kohan'ona (from the east), Salimopia Thlian'ona (from the west), Salimopia Thluptsin'ona (from the north), Salimopia Shikan'ona (from the nadir), and Salimopia Itapanahnan'ona (from the zenith).<ref name=bw/>

==The Shalako==
Each kiva selects two men, one to portray one of the six Shalakos, and one who alternates in the role, the Shalako Anuthlona. They appear after the Council of the Gods complete their journey around the village at dusk. They approach the village from the south, coming down Greasy Hill. Each Shalako enters their designated house, and chants commence recounting the creation of the Zuni, and their search for the Middle. After midnight, a feast is consumed by all, followed with dancing by the Shalako. The ceremony finishes at dawn when Saiyatasha completes his final prayer.<ref name=bw/>


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
*Charles Francis Saunders, ''The Indians of the Terraced Houses'', Chapter XVI: Of the Night Dance of the Shálako Gods, pp.153–166. G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1912.

==Additional reading==
*Charles Francis Saunders, ''The Indians of the Terraced Houses'', Chapter XVI: Of the Night Dance of the Shálako Gods, pp.&nbsp;153–166. G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1912.

==See also==
*[[Dance Hall of the Dead]]

==External links==
*[https://www.nytimes.com/1982/11/07/travel/the-spirit-of-the-zuni-pueblo.html The Spirit of the Zuni Pueblo]

{{Native American Dances}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Shalako}}
[[Category:Native American dances]]
[[Category:Native American dances]]
[[Category:Native American religion]]
[[Category:Native American religion]]
[[Category:Zuni culture]]
[[Category:Zuni tribe]]
[[Category:December events]]
[[Category:November events]]
[[Category:Winter solstice]]

Latest revision as of 04:30, 6 December 2024

Shalako is a series of dances and ceremonies conducted by the Native American Zuni people for the Zuni people at the winter solstice, typically following the harvest. The Shalako ceremony and feast has been closed to non-native peoples since 1990.[1] However, non-native peoples may be invited as guests by a Zuni tribal member.

Nancy Bonvillain described the Shalakos, "They brought good fortune, abundant crops, and many children."[2] They are chosen at Winter Solstice, when they begin to learn the chants they will recite in the early December ceremony.[3]

The Shálako festival, on or about December 1, is a remarkable sacred drama, enacted in the open for the double purpose of invoking the divine blessing upon certain newly built houses, and of rendering thanks to the gods for the harvests of the year. The exact date of the Shálako is fixed each year by a formula of the Zuni Bow priests, which traditionally was the 49th day past the tenth full moon, but has been altered to the weekend nearest the 49th day past the tenth full moon, as many Zuni people work away from their Reservation at jobs that do not allow them weekdays off. The official publication of the date is not made until the eighth evening before the event. The immediate effect of this announcement, which is given out by ten people in the principal plazas, is to quicken the easy-going life of the old pueblo into a bustle of industry.[citation needed]

The Koyemshi

[edit]

Nine offspring and the father, Awan Tatchu, constitute the Koyemshi of Zuni mythology, who accompany and interpret the kachinas. The children have characteristics of their father, dun-colored and marked with welts, they include Awan Pekwin (Priest-speaker of the Sun), Awan Pithlashiwanni (Bow Priest-warrior), Eshotsi (the Bat), Itsepasha (the Glum or Aggrieved), Kalutsi (the Suckling), Tsathlashi (Old-youth), Muyapona (Wearer of the Eyelets of Invisibility), Posuki (the Pouter), and Nalashi (Aged Buck).[3][4][5]

Council of the Gods

[edit]

Shulawitsi, Little Fire God, and his father, Shulawatsi An Tatchu, precede the Shalako. Shulawitsi, portrayed by a young boy carrying cedar bark torches, lights preparatory fires. They are followed by Saiyatasha or Longhorn, Rain Priest of the North, and Hututu, Rain Priest of the South, accompanied by a Yamuhakto, their helpers. All are protected by the Salimopia, Warriors of the Six Directions. They are called Salimopia Shelow'ona (from the south), Salimopia Kohan'ona (from the east), Salimopia Thlian'ona (from the west), Salimopia Thluptsin'ona (from the north), Salimopia Shikan'ona (from the nadir), and Salimopia Itapanahnan'ona (from the zenith).[3]

The Shalako

[edit]

Each kiva selects two men, one to portray one of the six Shalakos, and one who alternates in the role, the Shalako Anuthlona. They appear after the Council of the Gods complete their journey around the village at dusk. They approach the village from the south, coming down Greasy Hill. Each Shalako enters their designated house, and chants commence recounting the creation of the Zuni, and their search for the Middle. After midnight, a feast is consumed by all, followed with dancing by the Shalako. The ceremony finishes at dawn when Saiyatasha completes his final prayer.[3]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Zuni - Religion and Expressive Culture." (retrieve 21 Nov 2011)
  2. ^ Bonvillain, Nancy (2011). The Zuni. New York: Chelsea House. pp. 36–37. ISBN 9781604137996.
  3. ^ a b c d Wright, Barton (1988). Patterns and Sources of Zuni Kachinas. Hamsen Publishing Company. pp. 42–45, 80–101. ISBN 9780960132249.
  4. ^ Cushing, Frank (1896). Outlines of Zuni Creation Myths. Pennsylvania. pp. 401–403. ISBN 9781508654377.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  5. ^ Cushing, Frank (1988). The Mythic World of the Zuni. Albuquerque: University of New Mexico Press. pp. 49–51. ISBN 9780826313874.

Additional reading

[edit]
  • Charles Francis Saunders, The Indians of the Terraced Houses, Chapter XVI: Of the Night Dance of the Shálako Gods, pp. 153–166. G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1912.

See also

[edit]
[edit]