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.

Continue reading “Origins of Puppetry of Southeast 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. 

Continue reading “Origins of Puppetry in the Arctic of Western Alaska” →

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.
Continue reading “Origins of Puppetry in Northern United States” →

Why did puppets and puppetry ever get started?  The consensus of historians is that all over the world puppetry started in the area of the sacred with religious ceremonies.  Puppets were used as ritual objects that were animated to either bring forth or to appeal to  supernatural forces. 

Continue reading “Why Do Puppets Exist?” →

I admit that my knowledge of puppet history is pretty limited.  I’m aware of Asian shadow puppetry, Punch and Judy and Carnival puppets.  That was pretty much it, so I started to investigate with the ever so helpful Google. 

Continue reading “Different Types of Puppets” →