A casual visitor to the East Mesa would not notice any difference
between the people of Hano and those of Walpi, and in fact many Walpi
men have married Tanoan women and live in their village. The
difference of idiom, however, is immediately noticeable, and seems
destined to persist. Almost every inhabitant of Hano speaks Hopi, but
no Hopi speaks or understands Tewa. While there are Tewa men from
Hano in several of the Hopi villages, where they have families, no
Tewa woman lives in Walpi. This is of course due to the fact that the
matriarchal system exists, and that a girl on marrying lives with her
mother or with her clan, while a newly married man goes to the home of
his wife's clan to live.
There are differences in marriage and mortuary customs, in the way the
women wear their hair,[15] and in other minor matters, but at present
the great difference between the Hopi and the Tewa is in their
religious ceremonials, which, next to language, are the most
persistent features of their tribal life. Hano has a very limited
ritual; it celebrates in August a peculiar rite known as _Sumykoli_,
or the sun prayer-stick making, as well as the _Tûñtai_ midwinter
ceremony, the altars of which are described herein. There are also
many _Katcina_ dances which are not different from those performed at
Walpi. One group of clown priests, called _Paiakyamû_, is
characteristic of Hano. Compared with the elaborate ritual of the Hopi
pueblo, that of Hano is poor; but Tewa men are members of most of the
religious societies of Walpi, and some of the women take part in the
basket dance (_Lalakoñti_) and _Mamzrauti_, in that village.
The following Tewa names for months are current at Hano:
January, _Elo-p'o_, "Wooden-cup moon"; refers to the cups, made
of wood, used by the _Tcukuwympkiyas_ in a ceremonial game.