The Apache Tribal Traditions
The apache tribes have a variety of traditions or rituals.The apache Indians have rituals to make certin events, such as coming-of-age cermony.The apaches also perform spiritual ritual on a regular basis.These are done to thank the spirits for something,such as a good harvest.They also thank the spirit for the rain.All of the rituals are stylized.
Image showing the locaations of the tribes.
History:
The traditions of the apache Indians have been handed from the generations to the generations since Colombus discovered America.Many of thes traditions have changed a little.Most of thes changes are due to the relocations.In some tribes, leaders come to appreciate some of the Americans ways.In thes tribes you usually see the wearing of the American clothing except for during the rituals.These comes under the category of the impressism,since you can even see now a days in the present era the clothing of the Western in the Indian culture.
Image showing the tribal clothing
The house of the tribes can be viewed as
images shows the dwelling of tribes.
Type:
The apache Indians have very stylized traditions and rituals.Many of these have been same since then.There are two types of apache Indians tribes, they are: Formal and Informal apache Indian tribes.Formal traditions are referred to as rituals or dances.Informal traditions are called as the ceremonies.Both formal and infromal are got to communicate with the spirit.In rite-of-passage ceremonies, such as the sundown ritual for women, apache dancers, including the persons who are being honored, dance for fibe days almost non-stop.In ceremonies, such as asking the spirit for rain or for thanking the spirit for good harvest, members of the tribe would dance forom sundown untill the moon was at its highest peak,that is mid night.
Identification:
Apache dancers are major part of the rituals.These dancers wear ankle wraps along with the bells when they are performing the ritual dances.These wraps are made up of leather.Sometimes, in addition to the ankle wraps the dancers will also wear the elbow,knee wraps also.The jingling of the bells is said to awaken the spirits and prepare them for communication.Many of the tribal leaders wear the ornate headdresess during the traditional ceremonies.Although many tribes perform at the fire and also when two or more gather also they perform dances
Image showing the dance of the tribes.
Significance:
The Apache tribes dont have significant ordered form of the religion.The only form of worship is through rituals.During these rituals,the Apaches worship the spirits of Apaches who have passed away.These rituals are said to still wandering the tribal lands.These rituals oftenly dont use many words, often members of the tribe will simply chant.This is said to be peace for the tribe,and it is also said to please the spirit.
Misconceptions:
Many of the people call the tribal tradition to be serious all the time this is not true, tribals played lot of games.Some of these games taught lessons and the remaining are for fun.One popular night-game is kah,this is played like hide and seek.While one team is singing songs then the other team hides the bone in mocassin that is partially putting the bont in buried ground,if the singing team finds the bone then that team gets a point then this process continues and after four or five hours the team with most points is counted by sticks and wins the game.
The arts of the tribes is shown below.