Dig It - 2/10/25
Okay, simmer down, simmer down. Seekers, this is what the great 19th-century Kachinas look like. Bam! Staring at you right in the face. This is a Hopi Salako Mana, which dates to the late 19th century. The Shalako (Zuni spelling) takes place in or around the Winter Solstice. The ceremony is about the renewal of life, the sun, and days getting longer. It is the most important ceremonial event at Zuni, and it may have originated there or further east along the Rio Grande. I have found a number of petroglyphs depicting Shalakos in the Santa Fe area.
Many years ago, whites were allowed to view the ceremony at Zuni, and it was amazing. The Shalakos would enter the village at sunset, and that night they would dance (more like run) up and down inside newly built houses to bless the house and the clans, or families, in them. The Shalakos are bird-like creatures about 8 or 10 feet high, so they have to dig a trench in the floor of the house to accommodate them. The houses are warm and smoky and packed with people of all ages. We used to give Macaw feathers to the heads of the different houses. All would be sort of snoozing when all of a sudden the Shalakos would clack their beaks and get up and run down the trench.
Now, as I said at the beginning, this Kachina is Hopi, but the Shalako ceremony I described is Zuni. The Hopi and Zuni speak different languages, but they do borrow or share certain ceremonies. I have never seen a Hopi Shalako, but I imagine they have certain elements in common. Now Fellow Seekers, I’m going to take the next cut-off around the bend, but hopefully we will meet up on down the trail. Adios! - Lonesome