Lore and Legend from the Land of Lure

ARIZONA HIGHWAYS AUGUST, 1936

IT IS obvious that a state's character and individuality are largely determined by its climate, location, resources and early inhabitants. It is equally clear in the light of modern progress, that the folk customs of any community are likely either to become National in scope or vanish completely except where a conscious effort is made to preserve them.

There are a few customs and colloquialisms which may still be considered peculiar, if not to Arizona, then surly to the west or the southwest. These are chiefly related to the weather, irrigation, or the cattle industry. But aside from these, Arizona folkways may be compared with grandmother's hoop skirt and pantalettes to be preserved and cherished for their associations rather than general utility.

KEEPING ARIZONA TRADITIONS ALIVE

Arizona, a state combining the traditions of the youngest and the oldest civilization in America, has been imbued with three main cultures: the The boy, is exploited in the rodeo and is made the motif of entertainment by hotels, visitors' clubs, guest inn, and "dude" ranches. The dude ranch provides a setting where the tenderfoot may enjoy the color and flavor of the early cattle ranch without suffering any of its crudities.

Booms and bonanzas are relived in mining town celebrations. The stride of empire in the Southwest is presented symbolically and historically in outdoor theaters of the state.

The lure of lost gold is exploited in legend and celebration, notably in the annual Superstition Lost Gold Trek of the Phoenix Dons club, an excursion combining all the colorful elements of the old Southwest centered about a nominal search for a fabulous lost mine.

The Mormon entrance into the Valley of the Great Salt Lake is commemorated in Mormon communities on July 24. Old fashioned songs, stories, and costumes give this event a true pioneer flavor.

Arizona has two notable Easter sunrise services that in Papago Park near Phoenix, and at the Shrine of the Ages on the rim of the Grand Canyon. In the

ARIZONA INDIAN LORE

Anglo-Saxon advertising efficiency has been employed to publicize the Arizona Indian, still worshipping his ancient Gods on high mountains. Tourists flock to see him in his ceremonial chants and dances. A group of white citizens, the Prescott Smoki People, have undertaken the annual presentation of Indian ceremonials-they even out redskin the redskin in the weird glamour of their performances.

The Arizona Indian's tradition-his beliefs about creation, the elements, the points of the compass, the convulsions of nature; his knowledge of wars, famine, tribal migration; and his kinship with nature is bound up in his ceremonies. These include prayers and chants for almost every occasion in life.

Among the Navajo, ceremonies are in the main for healing; the Hopi lays emphasis upon his desire and need for rain and fertility.

Indian legends are many. One tells that the Grand Canyon was created in response to an appeal by fleeing UteHopi lovers. There was a mighty eruption accompanied by lightning and thun-dering; and lo-their pursuers were cut off by a great chasm.

Lore and Legend from

Southwestern Indian, nomadic and sedentary; the early Spanish, following after its advance agent, Fray Marcos de Niza; the American pioneer, including farmers, cattlemen, prospectors, trappers, and Mormon colonizers.

During recent years many civic groups have bent their efforts toward effecting a renaissance of the state's early cultures. They have taken advantage of a climate well suited to outdoor entertainment by reviving the glamour and romance of Spanish dons and senoritas in fiestas, the rugged adventure of pioneer days in old-timers' reunions. That dominant and romantic figure, the cowfive-day Easter celebration of the Yaqui Indians, expatriates of Mexico, at Guadalupe and Pascua, is seen a weird mixture of pagan and Christian rites. Judas is burned in effigy amidst features that smack of a particularly unsavory street carnival. Rosaries and prayer sticks, crucifixes and masks mingle at the shrine where the Virgin stands surrounded by relics of the Holy Church and the various paraphernailia of ancient pagan ritual. Masked dancers perform untiringly throughout the last night of the ceremonies until the rising of the sun on Easter morning.

The Sahuaro was once a soldier who for conduct unbecoming a soldier and a gentleman was courtmartialed in In dian fashion-turned into a giant cactus to guard the desert. When he has served his sentence he will be restored to his former rank (it is to be hoped with back pay).

There are a number of legends of the Superstition Mountains east of Phoe nix, which some of the tribes call Bad Medicine. The Pimas are said to leave presents there to appease their gods.

A curse is believed to have been on all who have gone there in search of gold.

ARIZONA YARNS

Arizona has its yarns, some of which are almost legendary. One concerns the Hassayamper, one who drinks from the Hassayampa River for "if you quaff its waters once, you'll ne'er forsake the blasted stream or tell the truth again; never leave the country or have a dollar." "Hassayamplification" (extreme exaggeration) and "spizzification" (lies Rugs, and fortunate indeed is that lady who possesses an antique colcha, or Spanish couch cover. Indian and Mexican pottery and basketry are also popular for home decorations. Luncheon tables are laid with Mexican glassware and pottery in brilliant colors. Following the Mexican idea, many homemakers decorate bare places on the wall with strings of brightly painted gourds. Even peppers have been strung for decoration, and the pomegranate serves as a decorative article in the home as well as an important ingredient for salads and ices.

Appearance in lieu of an evening wrap to add glamor to special occasions.

THE CATTLE INDUSTRY-COWBOYS

The first cattle, brought to this region by the early Spaniards, were succeeded by the Texas longhorn "stretching its neck across a thousand miles of sage and cactus." The longhorn presaged the cattle baron, the rustler, and that romantic and dominating figure, the cowboy. The cowboy has endowed Arizona, in common with other western states, with

the Land of Lure Arizona Folklore Ripe With Color

Other yarns) have beome well absorbed in Arizona colloquialisms. Camel stories have their place in the legendry of the state. These grew around the presence of camels brought in by the government in 1856 for desert transportation. The experiment proved a failure and the remnants of the herd were turned loose in the desert. A story is told of a big red camel who haunted the west bank of the Colorado, and when the moon was full would carry on his back a skeleton lashed to the saddie. And there was the ghost of the crazy prospector who drove back and forth on the road to Ajo three ghostly dromedaries with packs laden with gold nuggets.

The Indian influence is reflected noticeably in dress and personal adornment-in sports jackets and coats made of finely woven Chimayo blankets; in moccasins worn for boudoir comfort and beauty; and in hand wrought silver ornament sets with turquoise or petrified wood. Milady of Arizona is quite likely to appear bedecked in a belt of silver conchos, large silver ear drops, finger rings with large settings of silver or turquoise, and perhaps a silver necklace as well. Bracelets are very popular. It is considered smart to wear a bracelet ensemble forming a wide band of silver and turquoise reaching from the wrist halfway to the elbow. One may even wear her watch clasped snuggly to her wrist by a wide band of handwrought silver. Leather belts, bill-folds, and hand bags are often hand tooled in Indian designs-the most frequently copied symbols are the swastika, the thunderbird, arrows and arrowheads, and the rising sun. The Spanish influence in dress is noticed at costume balls, socials, and community festivals, and the picturesque shawl or mantilla may make its appearnuance in dress, habit, and speech. His tradition is lovingly cherished in the modern "dude" ranch, the rodeo, and cowboy ballads. The guest ranch cowboy is a "dude wrangler" as well as a "horse wrangler." The professional rodeo keeps alive the arts of calf roping, "bulldogging" steers, and bronco busting, and is a source of entertainment to visitors to the state. Cowboys songs, are sung around camp fires, riding herd, and in bunk houses, and are broadcast over national networks. They are featured-accompanied by the strumming of the guitar or the screech of the fiddle-at conventions, on service club programs, and in school entertainments. The round up "chuck wagon" is still extent, though motorized-a visitor's club takes one along on Sunday outings, and from it serves desert and mountain "grub" in typical western cowboy fashion. Originally ranches were named after their brand, but today "The Lazy T" or "The X Bar X" may apply to a bonafide cattle ranch or to a "dude" ranch. The cowboy dresses much the same as of yore-properly glorified for theSpanish, Mexican, and Indian influences survive today in Arizona architecture and home furnishings, speech, cuisine, and dress. Many Arizona homes have patios or inner courts, are furnished with Spanish or mission pieces, and serve as occasional delicacies, tortillas, enchilades, tamales, and other Mexican dishes. A great many floors are spread with hand-woven Navajo(Continued on Page 17)