Shalako

For other uses see Shalako (disambiguation)

Shalako refers to a series of dances and ceremonies conducted by the Zuni tribe 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 of Zuñi, which occurs every year at the beginning of December, but sometimes falls near the end of November, 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 to the gods of Zuñi thanks for the harvests of the year. The exact date of the coming of the Shálako is fixed each year by a formula of the Zuñi 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 and hold jobs that do not allow them week days off, so the weekend closest has been adopted. 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 Indians of the Terraced Houses, Chapter XVI. Of the Night Dance of the Shalako Gods, pg. 15, Charles Francis Saunders, G>P> Putnam's Sons, 1912.