500 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1918. 



nature, to fertilize the earth, that the Germ god may vitalize not 

 only the crops, the seeds of which are piled below the altar, but also 

 all game, domestic animals, and human beings — material resources 

 of all kinds. The winter solstice rite is a complex prayer to the Sky 

 god to return and renew life. 



The horned or plumed serpent is a symbol of the Sky god and 

 this being brought to Hopi by southern colonists is consequently 

 symbolized in the winter solstice ceremony introduced by them. 

 It occupies a prominent place in the rite in which the return of 

 the Sun god is dramatized, and its idol or effigy is the most con- 

 spicuous feature on the above mentioned altar. Directly after the 

 celebration of the arrival of the Bird god each worshiper says his 

 prayer to the serpent idol, the head of which occupies the opening 

 in the screen of flowers, and sprinkles it with sacred meal, as is 

 customary in prayers. They regard this serpent effigy as a per- 

 sonation of the Sky god, or as the renewer of life, as the bird man 

 whose actions have already been described represents the sun. 



But to study this element of sky worship in its more elaborate 

 drama we should visit the kivas at the vernal equinox, near the plant- 

 ing time, when there takes place perhaps the most remarkable cere- 

 mony yet described among the Hopi or any aboriginal tribe of North 

 America. 



The description given above indicates the character of the Sky 

 cult by one component of the Hopi in the winter solstice ceremony at 

 Walpi, but the fertilization ceremony with very significant varia- 

 tions occurs at other Hopi pueblos. We have observations of this rite 

 at Oraibi, where the intention is identical with that at Walpi, although 

 the horned serpent effigy is not introduced. Here elaborate sun cere- 

 monials, in which the Bird man plays a prominent part, are dupli- 

 cated, although modified in details. In addition, there are certain 

 rites performed at this time at Oraibi which appear in a modified 

 form at Walpi. The most significant of these is the introduction 

 of a portable screen, on which is painted the counterpart of the sun, 

 the Germ god, before which are performed ceremonies for the fer- 

 tilization of corn. The screen used at this time is a rectangular 

 frame, over which is stretched a cotton cloth bearing other designs 

 in addition to the figure representing the Germ god (Alosaka). 

 The lower part of this screen under the figure is covered with corn 

 seeds. On one side of the central figure is a design representing the 

 sun; on the other a picture of the moon, above which is a well- 

 painted corn plant. To the top of the screen are attached semi- 

 circular hoops covered with cotton wool, symbolic of the clouds. 



The ceremonies about this screen are too elaborate to be described 

 in detail, but their main object is the fertilization of corn, represented 

 by the kernels attached to its lower part. In the progress of the rite 



