ACCORDING TO AN OLD HOPI MYTH ABOUT THE ORIGINS OF THE DANCE, A YOUNG HOPI MAN (GOD) SETS OFF ON A TREK TO THE LAND OF THE SNAKE PEOPLE...WHO CAN ASSUME THE FORM OF SNAKES WHENEVER THEY WISH. THERE THE YOUNG MAN MEETS THE CHIEF OF THE TRIBE WHO TESTS THE YOUNG MAN BY ASKING HIM TO IDENTIFY WHICH OF THE SNAKES IS ACTUALLY THE CHIEF'S DAUGHTER. NOW, IT IS JUST BY LUCK THAT THE YOUNG MAN SUCCESSFULLY IDENTIFIES WHICH SNAKE IS THE CHIEF'S DAUGHTER, THE SNAKE WIFE, AND HE RECEIVES HER IN MARRIAGE...ALONG WITH THE SECRETS OF THE SNAKE CEREMONY. THE YOUNG MAN TAKES HIS BRIDE BACK TO HIS VILLAGE, BUT WHEN THEY REACH THE FOOT OF THE MESA, SHE TELLS HIM THAT SHE WILL REMAIN THERE UNTIL HE RETURNS.
THE FOLLOWING MORNING AS THE YOUNG MAN WALKED DOWN THE SIDE OF THE MOUNTAIN TO TAKE HIS BRIDE SOME FOOD, HE MET UP WITH A WOMAN WHO WAS CLIMBING UP THE HILL WITH A JUG OF WATER,A FORMER LOVER OF HIS; THEN, WITHOUT WARNING SHE DROPPED THE JUG AND RAN TO HIM EMBRACING HIM. WHEN HE REACHED HIS WIFE, SHE ALREADY KNEW WHAT HAD HAPPENED. WEEPING, SHE TOLD THE YOUNG MAN THAT SHE WOULD BE RETURNING TO HER PEOPLE, BUT THAT SHE WOULD LEAVE HIM WITH THE BABY WHO, LIKE HERSELF, COULD CHANGE INTO A SNAKE AT WILL...AND THEN SHE DEPARTED.
THAT'S WHY THE HOPI INDIANS CONTINUE TO DANCE THE SNAKE DANCE TODAY. THE DANCERS ARE THE DESCENDANTS OF THE CHILD BORN TO THE YOUNG MAN AND HIS SNAKE WIFE....WHO, AS THE SERPENT GODDESS, HAS CONNECTIONS TO THE LIFE-GIVING RAIN.
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