The Koshare are an important part of the Southwest Native cultures.  They are the sacred clowns of the Hopi, Tewa Pueblos and Apache, and serve a respected and valuable function in their societies.

Easily recognized for their black and white striped painted bodies, their corn husk “horned” hats, and baudy behavior,  they appear at various ceremonies to teach social norms thru satire, poking fun, and mocking inappropriate behavior of children and adults.  They will even catch & throw children, whose parents have alerted the Koshare to their child’s digressions, into the river as pubic punishments, for instance.   They are often referred to as the “Sacred Tricksters” 

  They are similar to the court jesters of European cultures, and even going back to ancient Egyptian civilizations.….mediators between the sacred and profane, using humor and mischief to highlight social breaches…..all in the service of teaching the morals and cultural values of their societies.