The Holbrook news., 1920-08-13
HOPI INDIANS HOLD
 SNAKE DANCE AUG. "A

One of the most interesting and vivid of the Hopi Indian ceremon- ials, the Hopi snake dance, is sche- duled to take place between August 15 and 25 on the Hopi reservation
 In five Hopi villages every year: two fraternities cooperate during August in the presentation of nine days ceremony. In even years Q918- 1920, etc) the Antelope and Snake fraternitieS combine and enact their rites in the villages of Arabia. Shumopovi and Shipaulovi. In the villages of Mishongnovi and Walpi may be witnessed in the same year the combined ceremonies of the Blue and Drab Flute fraternities. In odd years Q919-2I, etc.) in Orabi, Shumopovi and Shipaulovi are held the Flute ceremonies, and in Mis- hongnovi and Walpi the Snake-Ante- Iope ceremonies
 In each of the five villages there are two Flute organizations, one known as the Oakwalenya, or Blue Flute, the other as the Macilenya ,or Drab Flute. The rites of these two societies have much in common.
 The secret rites of these societies are not held in a kiva but in a chamber of the house of a leading member. Here the alter is erected, prayer offerings are made and sacred traditional songs are sung. On the ninth day there is public perform ance at spring near the foot of the Mesa Early in the ceremony the "six directions" altar, it's ac- companying charm liquid, is erect ed, prayer offerings are made, con secrated and deposited, the altar is put up, and the final early morning races and the public performances are held of special interest.
 At sunrise of the ninth day occurs a spectacular foot race. They star from a point far out on the plain and run at a breakneck speed to the village in a grand struggle to obtain the reward of duly consecreated cere- monial objects which, when deposit ed in the owners field, will give the winner special success with his crops shows them to be elaborate prayer
 In the Antelope-Snake ceremon- ies, fete opens with a hunt which continues four days, pursued in a different direction in each. On the ninth day of this ceremony the snake dance takes place which is one of the most astounding of the Indian ceremonials, in which the Antelope priests, presumably like Hopis handle live rattlesnakes.
 The ceremony of the Snake and all other ceremonies is a dramatiza- tion of a ritual which had it's origin in a myth each recounting how, on some occasion in the far distant past, various events happened in q certain way and certain definite and tangible events followed.
 As it is enacted today, the Ante SCl lo oiA O-oOOA obSN prayer for rain, the snakes carrying down to the underground world, where they are in direct connection with the great plumed water ser pent, prayers to the gods of the rain clouds that they will. send such copious rains as will save the Hopi form hunger and possibly from star vation.
 For the information of those de- string to attend the Snake Dance the News has received the following from Lorenzo Hubbell, of Oraibi, Arizona:
 '"The exact date for the Snake Dance at HotevilIe will be Tuesday, August 24th, and the Antelope dance on the 23rd. I would suggest that the people from HoLbrook take the road through Keams Canycn, First Mesa (Polacca) and then through Oraibi on to Hoteville. Camp grounds and plenty of water to be had"