Flat Katsina Dolls

The power and beauty of the Hopi religion is not only in the visual beauty of witnessing the elaborate Katsina dances or their beautiful costuming, but in the fact that it is not a religion practiced just for the Hopi people, but their prayers are meant to be for everyone in the world. The Katsina season lasts from approximately mid-February to mid-July every year, a time when the Katsinas are physically represented in the Hopi villages and their prayers for rain and good health and a myriad of other things are carried out.

The Katsina dolls given to the females during Katsina dances are ones made by male family members and handed to the females by a Katsina during a dance. Only males who have completed their “manhood” initiation participate in the Katsina dances.

Because it is a dance performed only by men and boys—even the female Katsinas are impersonated by males—the females of the village are included to the extent that each is given a Katsina doll during the dance. These dolls are then hung from the rafters of the Hopi home for the purpose of education of the females about the Katsinas. They are not idols and are not treated reverently, but are to teach the females who the Katsinas are through recognition.

Flat Katsina Dolls

The flat dolls are made for presentation to infants and toddlers. They are usually the very first doll received by female infants. There generally are no feathers and no distinguishing body parts, but the face is accurate for the Katsina being represented.

We are presenting five of these flat dolls in this exhibit. Each is described individually and each is available for purchase. If one were interested in a gift for a female infant or toddler, what could be more appropriate? We hope you enjoy this small presentation of flat Katsina dolls and appreciate their meaning to the Hopi.