Traditionally, Hopi Indians are organized into matrilineal clans. When a man marries, the children from the relationship are members of his wife's clan. These clan organizations extend across all villages. Children are named, however, by the women of the father's clan. Twenty days after the children born, the women of the patternal clan gather, each woman bringing a name and gift for the child. In some cases where many relatives would attend, a child could be given many names.
The Hopi religion does no written text. The Hopi pass down the precepts of their religion from generation to generation through oral tradition. The leaders of various clans organize ceremony troughout the year.
The Hopi Indians still practice a complete cycle of traditional ceremonies although not all villages retain or ever had the complete ceremonial cycle. These ceremonies based on the lunar calendar and are observed in each of the Hopi villages.
The Hopi Indians are highly skilled farmer. Corn was the most common food grown and eaten on the land, with over 24 different varieties, although yellow and blue one were the most popular. Squash, beans, pumpkins, and other various fruit were also grown and eaten.
A significant number of Hopi have regular paying job. Others make a living from producing high quality art of traditional crafts, especially the carving and sale of Kachina Dolls, ceramics pottery and other activities such as design and producing jewelry, especially sterling silver. The pottery was made of wet clay and then buried under the sand until it dried. Each piece told a story and was use for everything from bathing to cooking.
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