Body Ritual Among The Nacirema Summary

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Body Ritual Among the Nacirema was written by Horace Miner, a former professor of anthropology and sociology at the University of Michigan, in 1965 for the American Anthropologists.
Professor Linton brought the attention of anthropologists twenty years ago to the rituals of the Nacirema, Linton went on to say that they live between the Canadian Cree, the Yaqui and the Tarahumara of Mexico. Linton said that there is little known of the Nacirema, just that tradition states that they came from the east. According to Linton little is know about the Nacirema except through mythology, we are told that Notgnishaw launched a piece of wampum across the Pa-To-Mac River and then whacked down the cherry tree which the Spirit of Truth resided.
Linton proceeds to describe the Nacirema by saying that the Nacirema use "holy water" which is stored in the Water Temple of the community, where "priests" conducted …show more content…
The Nacirema also go to a temple called Latipso where permanent groups of vestal maidens in distinctive costumes take care of the native people, but the ceremonies can be so harsh that it is phenomenal that a proportion of the sick people that enter will actually leave the temple recovered and healthy, but small children are afraid to go to the temple because "that is where you go to die". Another problem among the Nacirema is that it is very expensive to go to the temple and not all can afford it.
Finally the Nacirema believe that excretory function are ritualized , and kept to secrecy, but natural reproductive functions are distorted, intercourse is scheduled and a taboo topic among the native Nacirema. They also avoid pregnancy by using magical materials.
In conclusion, the Nacirema people are highly based on rituals and their magic. Even though the Nacirema live under such different cultures and customs they have managed to survive and
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