Apache Sunrise Ceremony
By: Melissa,Courtney,Dylanie & Taylor
What it is
the Apache Sunrise Ceremony is a four-day communal celebration that marks the first menstruation of an Apache woman.
What it consists of
It consists of numerous sacred rituals, dances, songs, and enactments during which the girl becomes a living representation of White Painted Woman, the first woman in the world and the mother of the Apache people
Purpose of the Ceremony
Achieves a deep person connection with her spiritual heritage
Marks the transitions from childhood to adulthood
Helps her embrace her role as an Apache throughout her future life
Unify the community by bringing friends and family together
It can take up to 6 months to prepare for the event
Preparation
It typically takes place in the summer after the first menstrual cycle.
Girls go through physical training due to the physical element of the ceremony
Week before ceremony the girls parents honor her godparents with a meal
Four nights of singing and prayer lead up to the ceremony