HUPA JUMP DANCES ARE CEREMONIES THAT HELP THEIR COMMUNITY RENEW ITSELF EVERY TWO YEARS BY ENTREATING THE POWER OF THE SPIRITUAL WORLD. THEY LIVE ALONG THE TRINITY RIVER. THE JUMP DANCE WARDS OFF DISEASE AND DISASTER. THEIR CREATION MYTH SAYS A CLOUD CONTAINS SICKNESS AND DISEASE IN THE EASTERN SKY. CERTAIN SPIRITS INSTRUCTED OTHER SPIRITS TO HOLD A SPECIAL DANCE TO DEFEND AGAINST THE CLOUD. THEY NOTICED THAT WITH EACH SONG AND DANCE THAT THE CLOUD RECEDED. THEY DANCED FOR FIVE DAYS IN LENGTH AND THE COMMUNITYWAS SPARED OF PESTILENCE.
THE HUPA ADOPTED THE JUMP DANCE AS A MEANS OF FENDING OFF NEGATIVE POWER. IT IS A CEREMONY INVOLVES MEN, WOMEN, AND CHILDREN. IT PROTECTS THE COMMUNITY FOR YEARS TO COME. THE PEOPLE WATCH FOR A SIGN THAT THE SPIRITS APPROVED OF THE DANCE. IF RAIN COMES IT IS A SIGN OF EARTH RENEWAL AND CLEANSING.
THE REGALIA OF THE MEN IS A WHITE DEERSKIN HEAD DRESS AND LARGE BANDS OF RED WOODPECKER SCALPS AND DUCK FEATHERS. MEN WEAR DEER HIDES FOR SKIRTS, ABALONE NECKLACES.
WOMEN WEAR LEATHER DANCE DRESSES AND A SASH FROM THE LEFT SHOULDER MADE OF HUNDREDS OF BEAR GRASS SKIRTS, A COLORFUL SASH OVER THEIR SHOULDER MADE OF ACORN WOODPECKER SCALPS AND DENTALIUM SHELLS. THEY RAISE A BASKET OVER THEIR SHOULDERS AND STAMP A FOOT. WOMEN LIFT UP THEIR BODIES IN TWO MOTIONS TO THE BEAT OF A SONG AND RISE TO SING.
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