Ogre kachinas appear before the Soyoko ceremony which occurs early in the Powamu (Bean Dance). This is a time where young children of the villages prepare for visits from terrifying ogres and their whipper kachina helpers. The Ogres travel in groups and go house to house lecturing unruly children.
Ogres are strict disciplinarians who talk to the children, tell them what they are doing wrong while they stamp their feet, growl and make frightful sounds with their large clacking jaws. The orges demand that each child must prove his or her worthiness by performing such tasks as catching mice or grind corn. If the child fails he or she faces the gruesome prospect of being swallowed whole by the ogres or be carried off in the ogre's big basket.
These monster ogres carry red-stained saws, knives, bows and arrows which add realism to the terrifying experience.
The purpose of the frightful ceremony is to instill into the children that throughout their lives they must contribute food for the benefit of themselves and the survival of the villages. The ceremony is considered a time of regeneration, when purity is renewed and a new life cycle begins.
Kachina types may cross match into one or more group since many kachinas are multi-faceted with numerous responsbilities and roles.
Print and trace the designs onto multi-color fun craft foam sheets to create pliable and colorful soft face masks. Use left over trimmings of foam pieces to cut and paste intricate designs and shapes onto the mask.
For best results print on heavy duty vellum paper or card stock. All paper mask designs are printable on regular or heavy duty 8 1/2" x 11" paper. Print landscape mode for larger masks, portrait setting for smaller masks.
