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Answer
47 - Powwow
(030403)
The original meaning of “Powwow” in Algonquian, a Native American language,
was “conjurer”. This referred to the magic performed by a medicine man.
In the early 20th century, “Powwow” came to mean a
gathering of Native Americans. “Powwow”
events are sort of a family union, cultural revival, and dance contest.
Eye-popping colored costumes are decorated with elaborate beading and
eagle feathers. “Powwow” was
held as one of the events of the St. Paul Winter Carnival:
See the photos.
By the way, Native American languages have contributed to the vocabularies of
European languages. To a great extent the contributions have been in
the names of places. For
example, in the case of the Mississippi, “Mississippi” stemmed from the
Algonquian words of mitsi (big) and sitpi
(river). Our state name, “
Minnesota
“ came from mni
(water) and sota (clear in
Sioux).
Sources < http://encarta.msn.com/encnet/refpages/RefEdList.aspx?refid=210120292
>
“America
A to Z”, U.S. General Books, Reader’s Digest, Pleasantville, NY, 1997
Music from Powwow < http://encarta.msn.com/encnet/refpages/RefMedia.aspx?refid=461533010
> Native American languages< http://encarta.msn.com/encnet/refpages/RefArticle.aspx?refid=761573518¶=78#p78
>
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