Wawash are the runner kachinas of Hopi mythology. The runner kachinas or Wawash Kachinum appear during the spring dances to run with the men of the villages. If the man escapes the Kachina by the end of the village street, he is awarded a prize (usually some form of bread). If the Kachina should win the race, the man is whipped by the kachina with yucca leaves.
List of Runner Kachinas[]
The Runner kachinas include:
- Fox
- Road Runner (Hospoa)
- Rattle Runner (Aya)
- Red Kilt Runner (Palavitkuna)
- Squash (Patung)
- Chili Pepper (Tsil)
- Sikya Heheya
| Hopi mythology | |
|---|---|
| Main Gods | God of the Spring (Aholi) • Spirit of Plants (Angak China Mana) • Spirit of Weather (Eototo) • War Spirit (Hototo) • Spirit of Food (Karwan) • God of Fertility (Kokopelli) • Spirit of Food (Mana) • Spirit of Bees (Momo) • Spirit of Discipline (Nataska) • God of Creation (Sotuknang) • God of Creation (Taiowa) • Sun god (Tawa) |
| Main Goddesses | Goddess of Creation (Huruing Wuhti) • Spider Goddess of Creation (Kokyangwuti) • Butterfly Maiden (Palhik Mana) |
| Ogres | Giant Ogre (Chaveyo) • Black Ogre (Nataska) • Ogre Woman (Soyok Wuhti) • Ogre (Soyok’mana) |
| Guards (Tuwalakum) | Crow Man (Angwus) • Broadface (Wuyak-kuita) • Wupamo (Also a Chief kachina)• Hilili (Also a Whipper kanchina)• Warrior Maiden (He-e-e or He-wuhti) |
| Runners (Wawash) | Fox • Road Runner (Hospoa) • Rattle Runner (Aya) • Red Kilt Runner (Palavitkuna) • Squash (Patung) • Chili Pepper (Tsil) • Sikya Heheya |
| Chiefs (Mongwi) | Wupamo (also a Guard) • Mastop • Aholi • Red Tail Hawk (Palakwayo) |
| Females (Momoyam) | Butterfly Maiden (Palhik Mana) • Corn Maiden (Kachin Mana) • White Corn maiden (Angak Chin Mana or Kocha Mana) • Warrior Maiden (He-e-e or He-wuhti) • Cloud Maiden (Shalako Mana) • Grandmother (Hahai-i Wuhti) |
| Animals (Popkot) | Antelope (Chop/Sowi-ing) • Fox Dancer (Letaiyo) • Great Horned Owl (Mongwu) • White Bear (Hon) • Turkey (Koyona) • Deer Dancer (Sowi-ingwa) • Badger (Honan) • Cow (Wakas) • Buffalo (Mosairu) • White Buffalo (Köcha Mosairu) |
| Laughter | Kwikwilyaqa • Hopi Clowns (Koshari) |
| Other Kachinas | Crow Mother (Angwus-hahai-ie) • Hemis • Masau • Scorpion (Puchkofmoktaka) • Cricket (Susöpa) • Spotted Corn (Avachhoya) • Eagle (Kwahu) • Lizard (Manangya) |