Bunraku, the Japanese form of puppet theater is definitely the most striking tradition of puppetry in the world. The stage is large, the puppets are large and some puppets are so complex it takes three puppeteers to manipulate one.
Vietnamese Water Puppetry
I was absolutely intrigued the moment I stumbled across Vietnamese Water Puppetry. It is exactly what the name implies. The puppets and puppeteers are in water giving the illusion that the puppets are floating on top of the water.
Puppets in Canada’s First Nations
Puppetry was an integral part of the lives of the people of the First Nations who lived in Canada for centuries before the arrival of Europeans. As with other ancient cultures around the world, masks, puppets and puppetry were used in religious ceremonies, rituals and dances.
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Puppet of the Month: Penguin
50% off the Penguin puppet pattern. Website only sale ends 11-30-22.
Next puppet of the month: Reindeer
Hopi Corn Maiden
The Hopi who live in the southwest region of the United States utilized quite a few puppets in religious ceremonies. The pageantry of the ceremonies complete with the costumes, dancing, singing and plays could rival any pageant performed today. One ceremony using puppets involves the Maiden Corn Grinders.
Build Your Portable Puppet Stage
Use our plans and instructions PDF to build your own portable puppet stage.
Origins of Puppetry of Southeast Alaska
In this blog, we are traveling to southeast Alaska. The puppets of the Native Americans of the Pacific Northwest Coast were very elaborate and more varied than the puppets of both the northern region of the United States and Arctic Alaska. The ceremonies were also huge productions.
Puppet of the Month: Chicken
50% off the Chicken puppet pattern. Website only sale ends 10-31-22.
Next puppet of the month: Penguin
Origins of Puppetry in the Arctic of Western Alaska
In this blog we will travel to the frozen Arctic Zone of North America where the Inuit lived. The Yup’ik speakers of Western Alaska still use mechanical figures. Ceremonies were held to celebrate important occasions and to ensure successful hunting.
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Origins of Puppetry in Northern United States
I wanted to do a blog series on the history of puppets in the United States. While searching for information, I discovered that puppetry has been around a lot longer than I thought. Puppetry used by the Native American Nations is fascinating.
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