The hoop is held in high esteem in American Indian culture as it symbolizes strength.
Dream catchers are American Indian crafts intended to ward off the bad dreams of sleeping children. A traditional dream catcher is made of a wooden hoop woven with sinew string and a feather hanging from the netting. There are a variety of designs, but the purpose of the dream catcher is always the same.
Dream Catcher Folk Lore
According to American Indian folk lore, the night air is filled with good and bad dreams. A dream catcher lets good dreams slip easily through the center hole dream catcher and glide down the feathers to the sleeping person. Bad dreams get tangled in the dream catcher's web. The first light of dawn will kill the bad dreams that have been caught.
History of the Dream Catcher
Frances Densmore, who studied material culture of the Ojibwe, claims the first dream catcher appeared in the early 1900s. The dream catcher was originally used to teach wisdom. Hanging a dream catcher in front of or above babies would help them learn about the good and bad dreams that can invade their sleep. Ojibwe grandparents wove the crafts for newborn children to give them beautiful dreams.
Materials Used to Make Dream Catchers
Ojibwe people used sinews on a tear-shaped or circular wooden frame. Traditionally, the bent wooden frame was made from dried red willow twigs. Today, some dream catchers are made from sturdier string and wood wrapped in leather to last longer, but the main design is still the same. The string is woven around the frame to create a web-like appearance and a feather is hung from the netting. The dream catcher can then be decorated with arrowheads, beads and stones.
Different Dream Catchers for Different Ages
Another traditional design feature of the dream catcher is to tie the strength of the craft to the age group it was made for. Willow and sinew dream catchers are meant for children because the materials don't last and relate to the temporary stage of youth. Adult dream catchers are made of woven fiber to reflect their adult dreams.
Related posts
Dream catchers are thought to hold onto bad dreams until the sun destroys them.Dream catchers are decorative, circular webs that are part of the Native American culture. Originally called "sa...
Dreamcatchers are said to stop nightmares for children.According to Native American lore, dream catchers catch bad dreams in their webbing while allowing good dreams to pass through to the person...
Dream catchers promote good dreams, warding off nightmares.Native American traditions state that a dream catcher hung above the door, window or bed will keep dreams safe by catching bad dreams, on...
Start sleeping soundly by hanging your own homemade mini dream catcher.According to American Indian legend, dream catchers are handmade objects which allow only good dreams to enter a person's min...
Native Americans first made dream catchers.Preschoolers often have bad dreams that they can't shake; if your child is one of these, help them conquer their bad dreams by helping them make a dream...
