Kachinas are sometimes described as supernatural beings embodying the spirits of living things, such as plants and animals; non-living natural objects such as clouds and snow, and the spirits of deceased ancestors or other people. They visit the Hopi villages each year between the months of December and July to dance and sing, to bring gifts and to bring rain for the crops. They are not gods, but because they possess power over nature they help the Hopi in their continuous essential task of preserving harmony with the world around them.

There are currently about 300 different Hopi Kachinas. New ones are added from time to time or adopted from similar cultures such as the Zuni or Tewa Kachina Societies, as it seems appropriate. Male society members impersonate these spirits during kachina dances and kiva ceremonies. When done with proper reverance and perfection, these impersonations assure the Hopi that the Kachina spirits will favor them with their specific blessings. The Hopi also carve likenesses of kachinas of cottonwood root. These "kachina dolls" are traditionally given, on ceremonial occasions, to Hopi children both to entertain them ands also to familiarize them with the appearance of the kachinas as part of their religious training.

Children too young for elaborately carved and decorated kachina dolls, receive cradle dolls, "tihu". During the first major ceremonial following her birth, a baby Hopi girl is given a tihu representing the Kachina Mother, followed in succession by the Corn Mana (maiden) and Butterfly Mana dolls. Thereafter, the choice is left to the carver, usually the girl's father or uncle. Although cradle dolls are fashioned with uniformly simple, flat bodies painted with bright vertical red stripes, their heads are accurate representations of the masks of the particular kachina they portray.

Hopi kachina carving has in recent times evolved into a unique sculptural art form. Carved kachina dolls now often appear highly detailed, often assuming poses from dance steps as if caught in action, like a still photograph. They are often now depicted anatomically as human dancers wearing masks. Thin layers of paint and stain are applied to let the wood grain show through the colors. Finely worked contemporary kachina dolls can bring high prices well beyond $6,000.00. Within the past few years there has also been a movement back to traditional, flattened, "tihu" style carving among some younger carvers, creating a vibrant variety of styles. 

For information about Kokopelli, and the Kokopelli Kachinas, click here.