Definition

Noun: 1. A carved doll representing a Pueblo spirit: A small, often wooden, figure carved and painted to depict a specific Pueblo kachina spirit. These dolls are traditionally given to children to educate them about the spirits and are not considered toys in the sacred sense. 2. A deified spirit in Pueblo cosmology: One of the many ancestral and natural spirit beings central to the religious beliefs of the Hopi and other Pueblo peoples of the southwestern United States. These spirits are believed to act as messengers between humans and the gods. 3. A ceremonial dancer embodying a spirit: A person, usually a male initiate, who wears a mask and elaborate costume to impersonate and become the vessel for a specific kachina spirit during religious ceremonies.

Examples

• As a carved doll:
  • The child received a beautifully painted kachina doll during the ceremony.
  • The museum has an impressive collection of historic Hopi kachinas.
• As a spirit:
  • The Hopi believe the kachina spirits live in the San Francisco Peaks for part of the year.
  • Prayers are offered to the kachina for rain and a good harvest.
• As a dancer:
  • During the festival, the kachina dancers emerged from the kiva.
  • The masked kachina moved rhythmically to the beat of the drum.

Advanced Usage

• Kachina cult: Refers to the complex system of beliefs, rituals, and societies centered around the kachina spirits within Pueblo culture.
• Kachina society: A religious fraternity within a Pueblo community responsible for the knowledge and performance of kachina ceremonies.

Variants and Related Words

• Katsina: An alternate spelling, often preferred as a closer transliteration of the Hopi word.
• Kachina mask: The specific mask worn by a dancer to represent a particular spirit.

Synonyms

• Spirit doll (for the carved object).
• Divinity, spirit being (for the supernatural entity).
• Ceremonial dancer, masked dancer (for the performer).

Related Idioms and Phrases

• To become a kachina: Used metaphorically to describe someone fully embodying a role or spirit during a performance or ritual.
  • When he put on the mask, he ceased to be a man and became a kachina.

Noun

1. a carved doll wearing the costume of a particular Pueblo spirit; usually presented to a child as a gift
2. a deified spirit of the Pueblo people
3. a masked dancer during a Pueblo religious ceremony who is thought to embody some particular spirit