The Zuñi Way
Socialization following the “Zuñi Way” starts at infancy. This is when the mother and or the father will select, for a male child, a Kiva on the day of his birth. The Kiva is represented in six different groups. (Theodore Frisbie; Encyclopedia). They are each an essential part of society, but each child will later have the choice to change his Kiva if he truly wishes. The only time a Kiva will be forced upon a child is when that child is misbehaving for a long period of time. Before a child is ever forced into a Kiva, he is taught how he needs to act. Aggressive and hostile acts are discouraged and with this on occasion the mother’s brother may be asked to reprimand bad behavior from a child. This can be because the behavior has continued and
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All males are initiated into the Kachina society and become members of one of six Kiva groups. Initiation into the Kiva occurs in two different stages in life. One is at ages five and nine, and the other is between the ages ten and fourteen. Once each male goes through this they are then allowed to wear a Kachina mask. This mask represents the Kachina which is a spirit being of the Zuñi people. (Theodore Frisbie; Encyclopedia). The masked Zuñi are then known as the Kachina dancers. The Kachina dancers are the masked members of the community who represent Kachinas at religious ceremonies four times a year. Once during summer, once prior to the harvest, once prior to the winter solstice, and once during winter proper (Countries and their Cultures). Each of these being a calendrical ceremonies or rituals. In addition to numerous annual pilgrimages, quadrennial rituals and ceremonies include the boys' initiation into the Kachina and pilgrimages to Zuñi heaven, which is the home of most of the Zuñis’ Kachinas and some of the Zuñi ancestors that have passed on (Theodore Frisbie; Encyclopedia). The Zuñi are quick to punish those who wear these masks if they ineffectively impersonate the Kachinas during the dancing ceremonies. (Page 340; Cultural Anthropology: 14th Edition;
All males are initiated into the Kachina society and become members of one of six Kiva groups. Initiation into the Kiva occurs in two different stages in life. One is at ages five and nine, and the other is between the ages ten and fourteen. Once each male goes through this they are then allowed to wear a Kachina mask. This mask represents the Kachina which is a spirit being of the Zuñi people. (Theodore Frisbie; Encyclopedia). The masked Zuñi are then known as the Kachina dancers. The Kachina dancers are the masked members of the community who represent Kachinas at religious ceremonies four times a year. Once during summer, once prior to the harvest, once prior to the winter solstice, and once during winter proper (Countries and their Cultures). Each of these being a calendrical ceremonies or rituals. In addition to numerous annual pilgrimages, quadrennial rituals and ceremonies include the boys' initiation into the Kachina and pilgrimages to Zuñi heaven, which is the home of most of the Zuñis’ Kachinas and some of the Zuñi ancestors that have passed on (Theodore Frisbie; Encyclopedia). The Zuñi are quick to punish those who wear these masks if they ineffectively impersonate the Kachinas during the dancing ceremonies. (Page 340; Cultural Anthropology: 14th Edition;