There is an art as well as a science to Nursing -- a profession that honors significant ceremony which, across time, has successfully blended modern practice with ancient roots. National rites of passage form part of the Nursing culture. Pinning, for example, can be traced to 11th Century, when the Order of Knights Hospitaller (Order of St. …
Archives for May 2014
Cooking as Ceremony
Slice, peel, crush, knead, tidy…. Kitchens are the storehouse of family rituals that brim with cultural meaning. Families treasure their kitchen methodology and lore, passing along stories, measuring cups and utensils in loving tradition. Kitchens house the practical art that preserve our family stories. In Kitchens there are rituals -- ways for …
Staple of Life
Dr. Reuben Naranjo Jr., Tohono O'odham, received his Ph.D. in American Indian Studies at the University of Arizona in 2011, writing his dissertation on: Hua A'aga: Basket Stories from the Field, the Tohono O'odham Community of A:L Pi'ichkin (Pitiquito), Sonora Mexico. Dr. Naranjo shared his thoughts, experiences and knowledge of the "Cemait" or …
Misa Panamericana
The Mariachi gathers themes from life – love, bitterness, revolution, machismo, betrayal, even faith. It’s fitting that this vibrant folk musician also is a viable witness to sacramental life in the Roman Catholic community. In a folk music mosaic that blends colorful harmony and vocal energy with its thickly-constructed orchestration – the …
Rites and Ribbons
Twirling above us in the sunlight, bedecked with its colorful flowers and ribbons -- the Maypole is a contemporary, literal symbol of ancient ritual that celebrates the coming of summer and the fertility of the land. Variously dubbed (the Germanic Walpurgisnacht, the Gaelic Celtic Beltane), the Maypole celebration has roots in Floralia, the …
Ritual and Artful Expression
Southern Arizona embraces the piñata -- a storied decoration that protects its treats until blindfolded celebrants release rewards as the object of games. The piñata also importantly serves as the traditional centerpiece of so much community ceremonialism. In Tucson, master piñateros Jesus Garcia has crafted colorful, cultural piñatas with his …