Body Ritual Among the Nacirema Essay -- Anthropology

bole Ritual Among the NaciremaWhat is the precise geographical location of this strange tribe, theNacirema?The Nacirema is a north-central American group living in the territory betweenthe Canadian Cree, the Yaqui and Tarahumare of Mexico, andthe Carib and Arawak of the Antilles. Little is known of their origin,though tradition states that they came from the east.What are the private and secret close ins of the Nacirema?In the Nacirema, the belief is that the human body is ugly and thatits natural disposal is to debility and disease. Every household hasone or more shrines commit to the hope that mans body will be changedthrough the use of the sizeable influences of ritual and ceremony.Each family has at least on such shrine the rituals associated withit are not family ceremonies but are private and secret. The rites are unremarkably only discussed with children, and then only during the periodwhen they are being initiated into these mysteries.The central point of the shrine i s a box or chest which is strengthened intothe wall. Many charms and magical potions without which no nativebelieves he could live. These preparations are secured from a varietyof specialized practitioners. The most powerful of these are themedicine men, whose assistant must be rewarded with substantialgifts. Who are the Naciremas holy-mouth-men?In the power structure of magical practitioners, and below the medicine menin prestige, are specialists whose designation is b...