What does it mean when someone gives you a dream catcher?

Dreamcatchers are the most recognizable Native American symbol in the country today. For many Native Americans, they represent tradition and the dreamcatcher legends that have been handed down for generations. For some, they are the symbol of Native American unity. But for others, dreamcatchers are simply tacky tourist souvenirs that are made in China and shipped to this country to be sold as authentic Native American crafts. Several Native American tribes have tried to bring their meaning back by crafting dreamcatchers from traditional materials. By learning the meanings behind these beautiful, woven circles, you can gain a deeper appreciation of the craft and the beliefs behind their creation.Dreamcatcher History
Dreamcatchers are thought to have originated with the Ojibway tribe of the plains, but many other tribes such as the Chippewa and Lakota have their own versions of the dreamcatcher legend. The first non-Native American documentation was by a scholar named Francis Densmore in 1929. Although there are many variations, a dreamcatcher is basically a small circle of wood that is tied with sinew or thread to resemble a web with a small hole in the middle. The strings or sinews are tied at several points on the circle, with the number of points on the dreamcatcher having different meanings:* 13 points – the 13 phases of the moon
* 8 points – the number of legs on the spider woman of the dreamcatcher legend
* 7 points – the seven prophecies of the grandfathers
* 6 points – an eagle or courage
* 5 points – the starA dreamcatcher can also have a feather tied to the bottom and beads or animal tokens hanging on the strands. Traditional dreamcatchers are only a few inches in diameter, but you will see contemporary models anywhere from a few inches to 1 foot across.

Table of Contents Show

What does it mean to gift a dreamcatcher?
Can we gift someone a dream catcher?
What happens if you touch a dreamcatcher?
Is it bad luck to throw away a dreamcatcher?

Legend says that if you hang a dreamcatcher above a bed, it will catch the bad dreams in the web while letting the good dreams through the hole in the middle. As the sun’s rays hit the dreamcatcher in the morning, all of the bad dreams will evaporate.Dreamcatchers became popular during the pan-Indian movement of the 1960s and 1970s as a symbol of renewed Native American pride. They can now be found at almost every reservation in the United States and Canada. While you can find cheap imports at many souvenir stores throughout the West, it is a good idea to try to purchase the authentic article whenever possible. By buying dreamcatchers that have been made by native people, you can help keep the tradition alive and help support native tribes. Several websites specializing in authentic Native American items have been offering authentic dreamcatchers for sale. Try websites such as native-language.org/dreamcatchers for a list of craftspeople who make and sell authentic dreamcatchers and dreamcatcher.com for some beautiful examples for sale.Dreamcatcher Legends
Each tribe has a similar dreamcatcher legend, but each legend has slightly different twists that are particular to that region of the country.Ojibway Legend
This is the story of how the spider woman brought the sun back to the people of the world. Once, the Ojibway people were gathered together as one nation.

As the people dispersed to the four corners of North America, Asibikaashi (the spider woman) swore that she would continue to take care of the children, but couldn’t get to each bed every night. The women of the tribe wove magic webs shaped like a circle (which is how the sun travels through the sky) and hung them over the cradleboards. Just as the spider woman traps insects in her sticky web, the bad dreams are trapped in the web of the dreamcatcher and perish as the sun hits them every morning. Many mothers tied a feather to the hoop in the center representing breath or air. The baby would watch the feather and be entertained as it danced on the wind above its head.Chippewa Legend
This legend says that dreamcatchers were made to prevent children from awakening with the fear of the bad dreams still in their eyes. Mothers wove a web on a willow hoop while saying sacred words and thinking happy thoughts. They would hang the sacred feathers from the center so that when the good dreams find their way to the center, they will float down the feathers and sprinkle onto the sleepers. An owl feather stood for wisdom and was placed above the beds of girls, while an eagle feather stood for courage and was placed above the beds of boys.Lakota Legend
In this legend, an old spiritual leader had a vision. Iktomi, the great teacher and trickster appeared as a spider.

Iktomi took the elder’s willow hoop and began to spin a web as he spoke of the cycle of life from infant to old age. He told the elder that if you listen to the good ideas, the forces at work will steer you in the right direction. If you listen to the bad, the forces will steer you in the bad direction. He showed the elder that the web was a perfect circle, but had a hole in the center. Iktomi told him that the good ideas will be caught in the web, but the bad ones will go through the hole and not stick as it sifts the dreams and visions of his people.How to Make a Dreamcatcher
There are several different ways to make a basic dreamcatcher. Find detailed instructions in books or on websites such as nativetech.org.1. Use willow or grapevine to make a circle of any size, usually between three and eight inches in diameter. Many people like to wrap the hoop with suede or leather for a more rustic look.2. Get some strong, thin string. Tie it in a loop at the top of the circle where you will hang the dreamcatcher. Loop the string around the hoop, approximately every 1-2 inches, depending on how many points you want on your web. This will leave you with the string circling the hoop one time.

3. Start the second round of weaving by looping the string through the straight parts of the first round, in between the points on the hoop. As you work your way around the hoop and tighten the string, it will begin to pull the strings into a diamond shape.4. Keep repeating with additional rounds until you have woven the entire web, leaving a small hole in the middle.5. Tie it off at an inconspicuous point.6. Hang feathers or beads from the center if you wish. Giving someone a dreamcatcher (whether it is one you’ve made yourself or one you’ve purchased from a Native American craftsman) tells the giver that you care about him and his peace of mind. Make sure that she get a note describing the significance of the dreamcatcher and how legend says that it will protect her from bad dreams and negative thoughts. Many people now put dreamcatchers all around the house as Native American décor and you will even see them hanging from the review mirrors of many cars. It isn’t known whether a dreamcatcher in the car can protect you from the bad thoughts of other drivers, but it probably couldn’t hurt.

What does it mean to gift a dreamcatcher?

Hang feathers or beads from the center if you wish. Giving someone a dreamcatcher (whether it is one you've made yourself or one you've purchased from a Native American craftsman) tells the giver that you care about him and his peace of mind.

Can we gift someone a dream catcher?

The dream catcher prices are also pocket-friendly, so you can even gift them to your loved ones.

What happens if you touch a dreamcatcher?

You have to touch your Dreamcatcher to clean it, and nothing happens but having a cleaner Dreamcatcher.

Is it bad luck to throw away a dreamcatcher?

Is it bad to throw away a dreamcatcher? For the superstitious, throwing away a dreamcatcher will bring bad luck and release the bad dreams that have been caught in the dreamcatcher. They believe its best to dispose of the dreamcatcher in a respectful way.