Indian Ceremonies and Dancing

Dancing

• THE BRAVE DANCE (CHIEF DANCE)

• Sun Dance

• RAIN DANCE

Ceremonies

• Pipe ceremony

• Fire ceremony

• Wedding ceremony

Common features

• dances and songs passed down through many generations

• the use of a traditional drum• praying with the pipe• Offerings• fasting• ceremonial piercing of skin

THE BRAVE DANCE (CHIEF DANCE)

• Religious ritual before war• Aim: Protection of the warriors,

success in battles• Guardian spirits: assist individuals or

the entire community• invitation, dedication of food and

tobacco to the manidog• FEAST,SINGING, DANCING

THE BRAVE DANCE (CHIEF DANCE)

• Recitation of war exploits

• Other aims:

• bountiful harvest of wild rice

• avert inclement weather (severe winter)

Sun Dance

• Upper Plains and Rocky Mountain areas

• Annual ceremony: performed at the summer solstice

• Eagle is a central symbol: brings body and spirit together in harmony

• the sun: offers personal sacrifice as a prayer for the benefit of one's family and community.

RAIN DANCE

• performed by agricultural peoples (in the southwest)

• EXTREMELY DRY SUMMERS• AIM: ASK SPIRITS OR GODS TO SEND

RAIN• DURING PLANTING SEASON • BEFORE CROPS WERE HARVESTED• WHEN rain was desperately needed• BOTH MEN AND WOMEN PARTICIPATED

RAIN DANCE

• Wearing of large headdresses or masks• Accessories: • paint on the body• Beads• animal skins• Horse and goat hair• Feathers• embroidered aprons• jewelry

Rain dance

• moving in a zigzag pattern

• tribes in the southwest:

• Puebloan, Hopi, Zuni, apache

• Other: cherokee

Pipe ceremony

• sacred ritual • connecting physical and spiritual

world• Pipe: link between the earth and the

sky• Prayer in physical form• Fire: source of life• Using of Different pipes

Fire ceremony

• Performed every full moon

• Bring Something to burn: Get rid from past

• Prayer request of something new

• Pictures, drawings for the past or for the newness

Fire ceremony

• Forming a circle around the fire

• Call in support from divine sources

• GOD, Spirit, the Universe, the Archangels, Saints, Guardian Angels

• starts and ends with a prayer

Wedding ceremony

• Lavish preparations

• accompanied by:

• lots of entertainment, fun, colorful dresses, jewelry, music and dance

Wedding ceremony

• arrival of the 'Baraat• Formal procession including relatives

of the groom• AARTI: RITUAL PERFORMED BY THE

MOTHER OF THE BRIDE• Jaimala ceremony: exchange of

garlands• wedding gifts and congratulations

Wedding ceremony

• Exchanging of vows

• slokas (hymns) with the priest

• 'Phera' or 'saat phere' ritual

• knot is tied with the bride's dress and the groom's dress

• they move around the ceremonial fire for seven times

•Thank you for your attention!