Old Style Hopi Carved Longhair Redbeard Traditional Rain Dancer Katsina Doll

Description

Old Style Hopi Carved Longhair Redbeard Traditional Rain Dancer Katsina Doll by Wendell Silas

The Longhair Redbeard (Hokyan Angak'china) is originally from Zuni Pueblo. Longhair appears at most Hopi Mesas. He wears his hair loose on his back to represent falling rain. He is one of the most popular of all Katsinam. These Katsinam appear in a group and sing a very powerful and melodious song which may be one of the reasons that they are such favorites. They often appear at the Home Going Dance (Niman).Their purpose is to bring rain and it is said that they seldom dance without the appearance of a soft gentle rain to help the crops grow. The Redbearded Angak'china is so named to represent the look of the rain when the sun is shining through the rainfall during a storm. The rain can appear as if the sky is bleeding.