THE FIRE CEREMONY
by
C. Marshall Finnan

"Man in his originals seems to be a thing unarmed and naked, and unable to help itself, as needing the aid of many things; therefor Prometheus makes haste to find fire, which suppediates and yields comfort and help in a manner to all human wants and necessities; so that if the soul be the form of forms, and the hand be the instrument of instruments, fire deserves well to be called the succor of succors, or the help of helps, that infinite ways afford aid and assistance to all labors and the mechanical arts, and to the sciences themselves." Francis Bacon in his story of Prometheus, Titan founder of civilization of Greek Mythology, presents an extraordinary word picture of that most basic necessity—FIRE.

In our present highly complex civilization with its variety of mechanical aids and contrivances, heat, cold, and light may be controlled by turning a switch or pushing a button. In primitive society such mastery of elemental things is impossible. Consequently we are inclined to think of fire in a rather abstract way, if we think of it at all, knowing only that it keeps us comfortable in winter, drives our machinery faithfully and surely year in and year out, and once beyond our control can work absolute and complete devastation.

This is not so with primitive man. He cannot consider fire as only the means of attaining an end or desired result. To him, it is a primary essential, an advantage over all other animals, therefor the gift of gifts, a present from the Gods.

It is perfectly natural that early society should attribute the acquisition and control of this great force to some miraculous cause or event. If we borrow from the Greeks, Prometheus is supposed to have stolen fire from the heavens and for his action severely punished, yet he is the founder of civilization. In Roman mythology, Virbius is supposed to have been responsible for the periodical rekindling of the fire, according to Sir James Frazer. "California Indians profess to believe that the whole world was once a globe of fire, whence the element passed up into the trees, and reappears whenever two pieces of wood are rubbed together." Whatever the legends or myths may be, fire is one of the most ancient and fundamental, of human arts. There is a strong possibility that it is a heaven sent gift, being first introduced to primitive man through the medium of lightning.

The Hopi Indians of Arizona, perhaps the most direct descendants of the Mesa Verde Cliff Dwellers, have until recent years, looked upon fire as a form of vitality, a living thing, gift of the gods, a gift to be kept holy and sacred. Fire is associated with the sun, both having the common attribute of heat and warmth, the element necessary to the germination and growth of all life. To control fire is, in a way, to control the sun. To control the sun is to have power over life itself — crops may be made to mature and yield; nations made strong by rapid reproduction; the sick healed by the application of heat; wounds cured with the ashes of fire.

With this conception of fire the Hopi Indians developed a rather elaborate and complex ceremony, dealing with the mysterious as well as the germinative and curative powers of the forces of heat and light. According to the late J. Walter Fewkes, Fire Worship among the Indians was practiced until about 1923 and it formed a very important part of the Hopi ritual.

Four fraternities participated in the rites, and sacred fires were kindled on two occasions each year, about the time of the summer solstice and in November. It is said that making the new fire opens a new era, and as it is abbreviated or elaborated, the great nine day ceremonials that follow throughout the year are simple or complex.

Dances and customs taken from the fire ceremony, as recorded by Doctor Fewkes in the Smithsonian Report for 1920, have been incorporated in a play which is presented each summer by Indians employees of Mesa Verde for the education and enjoyment of park visitors. The stage is the beautiful setting in the northern end of Spruce Tree Ruin and red and green flares are used for lighting.

During the present season the play was presented in honor of Secretary and Mrs. Ray Lyman Wilbur, who were guests of the park during late June and early July. Interest in this unusual educational feature is reflected in the large number of visitors that arrange their time so that they will be in the park when the play is presented. About four hundred spectators witnessed the performance this year.