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nThenHopi do not worship snakes. However, at this time of the year, they dance with them.
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nThe Snake Dance is not some silly ritual that the Hopi love to do innfront of tourists with their cameras. It is an important, solemnnritual.
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nThenceremony takes place over 16 days in August and September. The firstnfour days, runners travel the four cardinal directions and collectnsnakes (both the nonpoisonous kinds and also the poisonous kinds!).nLater, people enjoy footraces. On the last day of the ceremony, menndance the Snake Dance.
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nThendancers are paired off. In each pair, one dancer holds a snake in itsnmouth (umm…non-poisonous for me, pretty please!), and the otherndancer distracts his partner’s snake with an Eagle feather (um…my snake needs morendistraction, please!). At the end of the dance, all the snakes arenrushed back down the mesa to their desert homes. The snakes are said to bencarrying the Hopi prayers for rain to the spirits of the underworld. n
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nInread that most Hopi villages will not allow non-Hopi visitors to comenand watch their Snake Dance. This is because, in the past, somenvisitors acted badly. That’s a shame. I can imagine that you neednpeople to be quiet and respectful when you’re holding a poisonousnsnake in your mouth! n
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nHeren is Mr. Donn’s page.
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- This websiten has tons of info but could use a picture or two or ten!
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- In want to explore the Hopi Arts Trail…butn it’s in Arizona, and I’m in California, so for now I will justn explore its website.
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nBynthe way…
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nThe thing about this 9-minute movie is that the narration /nsoundtrack is simply horrible! The racism and sexism and all-aroundnbigotry! The horrible, smug condescension! Well—it’s hard tondescribe just how bad it is! If you have the stomach for it, watchnand learn about an attitude that is thankfully very much out-of-date.
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nAlsonon this date:
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nAnniversarynof the demonstration of the steamboat
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nRussiannFlag Day
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nPlannahead:
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nHerenare my Pinterest pages on Augustnholidays, historicalnanniversaries in August,nand Augustnbirthdays.
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nAndnhere are my Pinterest pages on Septembernholidays, historicalnanniversaries in September,nand Septembernbirthdays.
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