Front:
25
JUAN
OCT
12
1989
00936
Puas
Southwest carved figure, A.D. 1150-1350
SAN
PR
11:1
GAMERIC
Back:
HOPI KACHINA DANCER
First Day of Issue: October 12, 1989
First Issue Location: San Juan, Puerto Rico
Out of the desert beyond the Hopi village march a group
of figures — weirdly masked, brightly painted, and attired
in clothing rich with symbols. These are the kachinas, the
supernatural ones, bringing blessings, rain and happiness
to the people; teaching discipline and rewarding good.
There are many types of kachinas, but the figures are
impersonated by men only even the female Crow
Mother shown on this Maximum Card. The Hopi people
believe that all life and blessings — the cycle of seasons
and crops — are gifts of these spirits, who rank just below
the major gods. And he who wears the mask of a kachina
believes he loses his personal identity and assumes that of
the spirit. All Hopi are members of the kachina cult,
which is closely associated with the ceremonial kiva
buildings in each village. Borrowing the bodies of living
men, the kachina spirits by Hopi belief continue to visit
the villages today as they have since time immemorial,
distributing kachina dolls to the little girls, and bows and
arrows to the boys.
No. 89-30
©1989 The Maximum Card Collection
A Division of Unicover Corporation • Cheyenne, WY 82008-0007
Original painting by Ed Little
