THE KATCINA ALTARS IN
HOPI WORSHIP
BY
J. WALTER FEWKES
Chief, Bureau of American Ethnology
FROM THE SMITHSONIAN REPORT FOR 1926, PAGES 469-486
(WITH 3 PLATES)
(Publication 2904)
UNITED STATES
GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE
WASHINGTON
1927
Plate 1
WalpiSix Directions Altar
[Pg 469]
THE KATCINA ALTARS IN HOPI WORSHIP
By J. Walter Fewkes, Chief, Bureau of American Ethnology
[With 3 plates]
INTRODUCTION
The present article is the fifth of a series published in the annualreports of the Smithsonian Institution on the composition of Hopiworship. The Hopi, the name meaning peaceful, belong to the Pueblostock and are agricultural Indians. They are descendants of theArizona cliff dwellers and have preserved to the present many survivalsof their ancient worship. The object of the series of fivepapers above referred to is to record a few of their rites in sun, fire,and ancestor ceremonies that have survived to the present time. ThePueblos performed their secret ceremonies in subterranean roomscalled kivas that were entered from the roof.
It is customary for the priest in the course of the ceremonies toerect an altar, so called, on which is placed their tiponi, or sacredbadge of office, surrounded by various fetishes, idols, and woodenobjects bearing symbols. Here are placed all sacred objects possessedby the fraternity of priests who celebrate the rite. There are fourHopi villages or pueblos that perform the rituals independently,the sacred paraphernalia differing in each. From a study of thesealtars it is possible for us to learn the aim of their various ceremonies.The present paper compares the four Katcina altars forthis purpose.
That element of pueblo worship known as the Katcina forms fullyone-half of the Hopi ritual, beginning with the arrival of the Katcinasor masked dancers in January or February, and lasting untiltheir departure in July, inclusive. It is distinguished from othercomponents by the presence of masked participants called Katcinas,supposed to be personators of the ancients, or “others.” The yearlydeparture of these worthies from the villages is celebrated in Julyby a great religious observance called the Niman or Farewell Katcinaceremony; their arrival by several rites, one of the most striking o