Bell Hammer Song

The Wedding of Squash Blossom

A Song Cycle of the Hopi Kachina Culture

Big Hand's fourth song cycle explores the Hopi kachina culture. The ceremonial cycle begins at Winter Solstice and ends with Summer Solstice, reflecting the planting, growing and harvesting seasons. Hopi kachinas, who live above the San Francisco Peaks in northern Arizona near the Grand Canyon, are considered to be spirit deities, or "Cloud People," by the Hopi nation. They assist, if not cause, rain in an arid environment. Kachina rituals reinvigorate the Hopi bonds with their mother, the desert southwest.

The return of spring from the sun's winter house is also explored. The light's emergence from darkness at the end of year is auspicious to people of earth, reflected in religious holidays of hope and promise, a fruitful life with many blessings and good fortune possible for everyone. Empowerments of fertility and growth are affirmed in song poems like "The Grass Returns."

Songs:

Cloud People

The Grass Returns

The Wedding of Squash Blossom

Canyon Dry, Mesa High

To Catch an Eagle

Hopi, Hoho, Hopi

Old Oraibi

Milagros

The Sparrow's Song

Dance of the Kachinas

Resources:

Artist's Commentary

References

The Wedding of Squash Blossom is dedicated to Georgia O'Keeffe and Jo Mora.