As many know, for some unknown computer/tech reason, I can no longer access the heart valve forum from my computer at home. But, for a few days Barb and I are visiting our son and his family in Minnesota.
On my Facebook account I have already posted the little story that follows. I have a lot of friends here that don't follow Facebook--and I wanted to take advantage of the chance to put it out where my other friends can read it if they like. So....Here it is.
Christmas morning in the Jemez mountains gets an early start. We needed to get the kids up and in the car while it was still dark. We were headed for an appointment-not an appointment set by the clock, but by the first rays of the sun. The car had already been well “warmed” when we had Ellie (age 4), and Frisco (nearly 2) bundled up and carried to their car seats. It was cold this high in the mountains, approximately 10 degrees above zero. The running truck was creating it’s own clouds off to the side. Except for those small clouds, the sky was crystal clear, with the millions of stars you can see at 7,000 feet with no other source of competing light.
I drove us off the mountain, to an appointed spot in the Pueblo. Barb and I knew what to expect, but it was going to be a big surprise to the grand-kids. With a few others for company, we looked off into the hills. What we had come to see was hidden over the other side of the steep hill we were looking at. We had gotten there a few minutes early, and I could see faint gray smoke where I knew the Jemez dancers were gathered. The color of the smoke told me we were early.
In a few minutes the sun lit the top of the mesa behind us. At the same time, the smoke from the hidden campfire turned dark black. The wait over. Jemez men of all ages began pouring over the top of the hill, heading towards the village plaza, and their waiting audience. This is a special Christmas dance which illustrates the belief that animals from the forest left their wild homes on Christmas day to celebrate the arrival of the new born son of God. The kids eyes were wide at this incredible sight. All the men coming down the hill were dressed in ceremonial clothes reserved for this occasion. The Jemez people are master potters. Some of the men represented deer. Using their potter skills they had recreated the “head” of the deer, with actual antlers. Because deer are four legged, their hands held short sticks, which struck the ground as they walked, a very realistic portrayal of a four legged gait. There were elk, eagles, wild turkeys and other birds, all with actual feathers, profuse and beautiful. Ahead of the dancers, tribal holy members scattered sacred white corn, leading the dancers to the village plaza. The kids especially noticed the youngest dancers. There was a little dancing eagle that I would guess to be three years old. Every Christmas season there is a home in the village with a designated “manger scene” above the door. Anyone at all is welcome to eat there any time of day, for a period about two weeks.Inside that house there will be mounted heads of deer-not as trophies, but lovingly decorated with fabric and Christmas ornaments. As we headed back home I was struck with the way the Jemez people have integrated their culture with the well being of the earth and animals of their small nation. And I thought, as I often have, of the joy and wisdom that overflows when different cultures live side by side in peace.
On my Facebook account I have already posted the little story that follows. I have a lot of friends here that don't follow Facebook--and I wanted to take advantage of the chance to put it out where my other friends can read it if they like. So....Here it is.
Christmas morning in the Jemez mountains gets an early start. We needed to get the kids up and in the car while it was still dark. We were headed for an appointment-not an appointment set by the clock, but by the first rays of the sun. The car had already been well “warmed” when we had Ellie (age 4), and Frisco (nearly 2) bundled up and carried to their car seats. It was cold this high in the mountains, approximately 10 degrees above zero. The running truck was creating it’s own clouds off to the side. Except for those small clouds, the sky was crystal clear, with the millions of stars you can see at 7,000 feet with no other source of competing light.
I drove us off the mountain, to an appointed spot in the Pueblo. Barb and I knew what to expect, but it was going to be a big surprise to the grand-kids. With a few others for company, we looked off into the hills. What we had come to see was hidden over the other side of the steep hill we were looking at. We had gotten there a few minutes early, and I could see faint gray smoke where I knew the Jemez dancers were gathered. The color of the smoke told me we were early.
In a few minutes the sun lit the top of the mesa behind us. At the same time, the smoke from the hidden campfire turned dark black. The wait over. Jemez men of all ages began pouring over the top of the hill, heading towards the village plaza, and their waiting audience. This is a special Christmas dance which illustrates the belief that animals from the forest left their wild homes on Christmas day to celebrate the arrival of the new born son of God. The kids eyes were wide at this incredible sight. All the men coming down the hill were dressed in ceremonial clothes reserved for this occasion. The Jemez people are master potters. Some of the men represented deer. Using their potter skills they had recreated the “head” of the deer, with actual antlers. Because deer are four legged, their hands held short sticks, which struck the ground as they walked, a very realistic portrayal of a four legged gait. There were elk, eagles, wild turkeys and other birds, all with actual feathers, profuse and beautiful. Ahead of the dancers, tribal holy members scattered sacred white corn, leading the dancers to the village plaza. The kids especially noticed the youngest dancers. There was a little dancing eagle that I would guess to be three years old. Every Christmas season there is a home in the village with a designated “manger scene” above the door. Anyone at all is welcome to eat there any time of day, for a period about two weeks.Inside that house there will be mounted heads of deer-not as trophies, but lovingly decorated with fabric and Christmas ornaments. As we headed back home I was struck with the way the Jemez people have integrated their culture with the well being of the earth and animals of their small nation. And I thought, as I often have, of the joy and wisdom that overflows when different cultures live side by side in peace.
