We call them "clowns,"
but Pueblos think of them as sacred personages. They are called "Koshares,"
"Kurenas," "Mudheads" and "Koyemshi."
There are other names as well. Who are these beings? Are they all
alike? What is their role at the various Pueblos? What do the old
Pueblo stories say about the Sacred Clowns? Why are they black and
white & what's on their head? How does someone get to be a Koshare?
When do they make their appearances? How are they mentioned in
Pueblo origin stories?
The challege with this topic is to understand why these
clowns are considered sacred. Non-indians don't have an equivalent social
counterpart to "sacred clowns," so you will have to stretch
yourself a bit to understand why these dancers have special authority at
some times. They are more important that they might first appear to
be. Pick this one & get ready for some serious clowning....help
us to understand the Sacred Clowns.
Bibliography
Dances of the Tewa, 2nd ed.,
Jill D. Sweet
Masked Gods, Frank Waters
Pueblo Children of the Earth Mother,
vol 2, Thomas Mails
