Soyal is the winter solstice ceremony of the peoples Zuni And Hopi which takes place on December 21, the shortest day of the year. Participants ceremonially bring the sun back from its long slumber, mark the beginning of another cycle of the Wheel of the Year, and work toward purification. Pahos prayer sticks are made before the Soyal ceremony, to bless the entire community, including homes, animals, and plants. The sacred underground chambers of the kiva are ritually opened to mark the beginning of the Kachina season.
Soyal, the Native American winter solstice of the Zuni and Hopi
They welcome new life and celebrate all that nature has created. Sacred rituals take place in special chambers, called kivas, which are often square and underground. With the rituals, they honor their guardian spirits, the kachinas, who come down from their realm on Earth and visit their people during the Soyal period.
These spirits are shaped like humans and are considered benevolent beings. They can be male or female, and represent many creatures in nature, and are associated with natural events such as healing the sick, rain, and the growth of plants. When they appear, they are said to leave behind gifts for children.
Exactly 16 days before the winter solstice, one of the main kachinas appears in their village. This is a spiritual event that has great significance for the Hopi tribe. It is said that he walks unsteadily, and looks as if he has just awakened from a deep sleep.
When he arrives, he heads to the central square and performs a dance and song that is considered too sacred for the villagers to hear. The main point of this ritual is to bring the sun back from its winter slumber, which is why it occurs at the winter solstice.
Before the kachinas arrive, Hopi tribe members prepare for the ceremony by creating pahos, which are special prayer sticks made specifically for the ceremony. They are usually made of feathers and pinyon needles, which come from a type of tree native to their area.
When the kachinas arrive, the chiefs of the Hopi tribe perform special rituals where they use a decorated shield to depict the sun being attacked by malevolent forces. At the end of the entire celebration, they perform a public dance for the kachina. The protective spirits will remain with the tribe until their season ends in mid-year, and from there, they will return to their homes in the mountains.
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Today, the Zuni and Hopi Native American people celebrate Soyal, the winter solstice. When the kachinas arrive, the leaders of the Hopi tribe perform special rituals in the kivas to depict the sun being attacked by malevolent forces. At the end of the whole celebration, they perform a public dance for the kachina. #mythology #myth #legend #calendar #December 21 #soyal #zuni #hopi
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