Navajo Wedding Basket
Description:
The Navajo people believe that the Navajo ceremonial basket, also known as the Navajo wedding basket, serves as a symbolic map of their lives. The center of the basket represents the 'Sipapu', a reed from which the Navajo were believed to have emerged from the previous world. The basket is typically filled with a cornmeal mixture during ceremonials, and each participant takes a portion to consume.
Baskets with remnants of cornmeal in the weaving are highly desirable, as they hold a ritual significance. The inner coils of the basket are white to symbolize birth, while the outer coils become increasingly black to represent the struggle and pain of life.
Along the journey through the dark coils, one comes across a red band, symbolizing marriage and the creation of a family through the mixing of blood. As the path continues, the darkness intertwines with white light, symbolizing enlightenment and growth. The outer rim of the basket serves as a reminder that no matter how much darkness one may face, there is always a path to light. During ceremonies, the pathway is pointed eastward. The final coil is purposely finished on this pathway, making it easy for the medicine man to locate it even in darkness.
