Who We Are
The Butterfly: A Symbol of Transformation
The butterfly has special meaning in cultures around the world... often related in some way to the idea of a person's soul, or of a transformation taking place in life. In fact, the ancient Greek word for butterfly is a word which actually means "soul" or "mind."
In Japanese culture a butterfly is the personification of a person's soul, whether they be living, dying, or already dead.
In ancient Celtic culture, the butterfly symbolized rebirth and transformation. The Celtics also believed that butterflies had souls, and when they accidently became eaten by a female, they would impregnate the female and be born as a human.
In Christianity, a butterfly is deemed to be a symbol that represents the human life cycle, and often used in referring to the life, death, and resurrection of Christ.
In Mexico, butterflies are believed to be the souls of departed loved ones returning to visit. Butterflies are often associated with that nation's most famous of national festivals, Los Dias de Muertos (The Days of the Dead), because as many as 250 million butterflies arrive in Mexico from the north on or about the days of the festival, which takes place every year on November 1 and 2.
The Shoshone Butterfly Legend
Many Native American people also had beliefs and legends about butterflies. The Shoshone people, for instance, told a story about a butterfly that deals with many of life's hopes, dreams, loves, and changes.
The picture of the "fancy dancer" on this page is borrowed from Native Peoples Magazine. Click here to visit Native Peoples Magazine and learn more about Fancy Dancing."
Here's How the Legend Goes ...
Many, many years ago when the Earth was still quite new, there was a beautiful butterfly who lost her mate in battle. To show her grief, she took off her beautiful wings and wrapped herself in a drab cocoon. In her sadness, she could not eat and she could not sleep and her relatives kept coming to her lodge to see if she was okay.
Of course she wasn't, but she didn't want to be a burden on her people so she packed up her wings and her medicine bundle and took off on a long journey. She wandered about for many days and months, until finally she had gone all around the world.
On her journey she kept her eyes downcast and stepped on each stone she came to as she crossed fields and creeks and streams. Finally, one day as she was looking down, she happened to notice the stone beneath her feet, and it was so beautiful that it healed her sorrow.
She then cast aside her cocoon, shook the dust from her wings, and donned them once more. She was so happy she began to dance to give thanks for another chance to begin her life anew. Then she went home and told The People about her long journey and how it had healed her.
The Legend Continues To This Day...
To this day,The People dance the "Fancy Shawl Dance" as an expression of renewal, and to give thanks for new seasons, new life, and new beginnings.
The shawl in the Fancy Shawl Dance represents the butterfly's wings, the fancy steps and twirls represent the butterfly's style of flight. This is another reason you will sometimes hear the Fancy Shawl Competition Dance referred to as "the butterfly dance."
