Native American Navajo Rug--Yei--Vintage

Description

Vintage Native American Navajo Yei Rug by unknown Navajo weaver

This classic larger Yei rug was created by an unknown Navajo weaver. The Yei is a slender, front-facing figure that represents a supernatural being in Navajo culture, one with the power to heal. Male Yeis have square heads, while the more common female Yeis are shown with round heads.

This weaving shows three Yei dancers from the Nightway ceremony in the center of the weaving surrounded by two bold frames of pattern and color shifts.

The Nightway ceremony is a major curative ceremony which restores harmony.  It invokes the Yeis, a special category of Holy People who are inclined to help the Navajo. A nine day ceremony, it is performed during the cold months when there is no chance of being hit by lightning and when the snakes are hibernating. The Yei-be-chai dance can last many days.

During ceremony, a team will be composed of fourteen dancers: the leader Yeibichai - the Talking God, six male dancers, six women dancers, and finally, the Water Sprinkler - the God of Precipitated Waters.  On the final night, teams of dancers appear in public in what is referred to as the Yeibichai Dance until just before dawn.  The ceremony ends with the chanting of the "Bluebird Song"  which celebrates the happiness and peace that the bluebird symbolizes.