Kinaalda

Description

Kinaalda, the ceremony associated with the onset of a girl’s puberty, is an important Navajo rite within the Blessingway complex. Derived from the experiences of Changing Woman, the puberty ceremony has passed through generations and continues to be observed throughout Navajoland. An acknowledged classic, Kinaalda remains the most complete “outsider” account of this important ceremony. Charlotte Frisbie’s lucid description takes the reader through the four-day ritual, describing sequence, daily activities, restrictions, and observances that include the girl’s races toward the east. Included here is an analysis of the accompanying music, complete with notation and translation. To give readers a better sense of why, Frisbie relates the beliefs and practices expressed in Kinaalda to origin accounts conveyed by medicine people and to explanations and discussions with other Navajos.