In endeavoring to find some reason for the similarity of names in the two groups of months which compose the ceremonial year I have this interesting hint, dropped by one of the priests: “When we of the upper world,” he said, “are celebrating the winter Pa moon the people of the under world are engaged in the observance of the Snake or Flute, and vice versa.” The ceremonials in the two worlds are synchronous. “That is the reason,” said my informant, “that we make the Snake or Flute pahos during the winter season, although the dance is not celebrated until the corresponding month of the following summer.”[11]
MEANS OF DETERMINING THE TIME FOR CEREMONIALS
Among the Hopi Indians there are priests (tawawympkiyas) skilled in the lore of the sun, who determine, by observations of the points on the horizon, where the sun rises or sets, the time of the year proper for religious ceremonials. Two of these points are called sun houses, one at tátyüka,[12] which is called the sun house (táwaki) par excellence, another at kwiníwi, which also is called táwaki, or sun house.
The points on the horizon used in the determination of ceremonial events are as follows:
1. Táwaki (hütca, opening). The horizon point properly called savwúwee marks the cardinal point tátyüka or place of sunrise at the winter solstice. The winter ceremony Soyáluña is determined not by sunrise, but by sunset, although, as a general thing, the time of summer ceremonials is determined by observations of sunrise.
2. Másnamüzrü (mási, drab or gray; namüzrü, wooded ridge). This point is the ridge or crest of the mesa, east of Püp′ce.
3. Pavüñ′tcómo (pavüñ, young corn; tcómo, mound). A point on the old wagon trail to Fort Defiance, a little beyond the head of Keams canyon.
4. Hoñwítcomo (derivation obscure; hóñwi, erect).
5. Nüváktcomo (nüvák, snow; tcómo, mound). When the sun reaches here on its northern journey the Honáni or Badger people plant corn; the other Hopi people plant melons, squashes, and gourds.
6. Pülhomotaka (pülü, round, hump; hómo, obscure; táka, man; possibly many hump-back men). When the sun reaches here the Pátki or Water people plant corn. When the sun returns here the Snake-Antelope fraternities assemble for the Snake dance.