Christian

Christian Religion is life for the Hopi and binds the village into a solid community.Most ceremonies relate to [|rain.] //Katsinas// or //kachinas,//of which there are about 350, are the guarding spirits that come down from their world at winter solstice, remaining in the people until summer solstice. Hopi religion begins at an early age for the children. Dolls called //tithu// are given them to represent the //katsinum.// These are not toys, but reminders. First of these given to the child represents //Hahai'i wuhti,// the mother of the //katsinum.//Through childhood obedience is instilled by rewards and punishments, which includes whippings administered by men in katsina masks.Somewhere between the ages of 8 to 13 the men behind the masks reveal themselves to the child and so begins their initiation into the adult world; they will become the men behind the masks. The religious dances also feature men wearing masks to portray these katsinas, with the snake dance as the final ceremony.

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