This month we’re learning more about Native Americans and the part they played in American Thanksgiving by making dream catchers! (Dream catchers originate much later than the time of the First Thanksgiving, but we’re focusing on the culture and traditions of all Native Americans. )
From dream-catchers.org: Native Americans believe that the night air is filled with dreams both good and bad. The dream catcher when hung over or near your bed swinging freely in the air, catches the dreams as they flow by. The good dreams know how to pass through the dream catcher, slipping through the outer holes and slide down the soft feathers so gently that many times the sleeper does not know that he/she is dreaming. The bad dreams not knowing the way get tangled in the dream catcher and perish with the first light of the new day.
Dream catchers are easy to make and so beautiful. We learned from this video.
You wrap a hoop (we used wooden embroidery hoops because we had some) with yarn or suede lace…
…then sew the web in the center, add beads and feathers, and hang it up to keep those bad dreams away.
In my research I found some very beautiful dream catchers – I’ll be making a few of my own for my own bedroom.
In the meantime, there’s lots more to be learned about Native Americans – stay tuned for more crafts and great books!
