essay

Ritual drama in the Navajo House Blessing Ceremony

southwestern indian ritual dramaAlbuquerque • Published In 1980 • Pages: 161-198, 345-360

By: Frisbie, Charlotte Johnson.

Abstract
The Navajo House Blessing Ceremony is a prophylactic rite, part of the Blessingway Ceremony, used to consecrate new or reinhabited dwellings. While much has been written on the Blessingway, prior to Frisbie's dissertation on which this article is based, little had been written on the House Blessing Ceremony, in spite of the great significance afforded the Hogan in Navajo life. Frisbie discusses the literature on the Blessingway and historical development of the House Blessing Ceremony. She distinguishes between a private and public ceremony. The later is a recent development rising with construction and dedication of public buildings on the reservation. Frisbie also discusses the ritual components of the House Blessing Ceremony, including the storylines and prayers, for both private and public ceremonies. She concludes that the House Blessing Ceremony has remained a viable, dynamic, and traditional ceremony, one able to accommodate social change.
Subjects
Dwellings
Public structures
Prayers and sacrifices
Organized ceremonial
culture
Navajo
HRAF PubDate
2004
Region
North America
Sub Region
Southwest and Basin
Document Type
essay
Evaluation
Creator Type
Ethnologist
Document Rating
4: Excellent Secondary Data
5: Excellent Primary Data
Analyst
Ian Skoggard ; 2003
Field Date
1964-1971
Coverage Date
1923-1977
Coverage Place
Navajo Nation, southwestern United States
Notes
Charlotte J. Frisbie
Includes bibliographical references (p. 345-360)
LCSH
Navajo Indians