Holiday in a Hogan

To the Navajo people, a hogan is a sacred dwelling. It offers shelter, protection, a home, and a refuge in harmony between the sacred mountains, under the care of “Mother Earth” and “Father Sky”.

Visitors looking for an authentic Navajo experience can stay in one of these traditional eight-sided, one room homes. Many hogans are used primarily for ceremonial purposes, but some Navajo families have begun to use them as lodging to provide tourists with the real Navajo experience. This is a primitive way of life - a traditional way of life. There is no electricity, running water, or luxury when staying in a hogan, only Mother Earth and the beauty of the natural surroundings.

Furnishings are sparse... either a mattress or a sheepskin lying on the dirt floor. The dirt floor represents Mother Earth and is kept very clean. A single door facing east to welcome the morning rays of the sun, and an opening in the centre of the roof that represents the sky and serves as a hole for the stovepipe.

In this way, with dirt and the sky as part of the home, the Navajo stays connected to what he holds most dear. A kerosene lamp throws shadows on the log walls where wedding baskets and cradleboards are hung.

The winter season is the traditional time for story-telling and games, especially the string games which Navajo children love to play. The ever popular coyote stories are told only in winter. Weather permitting, the stories are told while sitting around a camp fire under a sky filled with stars. Otherwise, the warmth of the Hogan sets the mood for an evening of Navajo lore.

The locals would like to welcome you to the Navajo Nation. Enjoy the beauty and power of a land that is so rich in history and culture.

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