This week I decided to read the Native American Marriage Tales. I always think cultural wedding traditions are so interesting because they are way unique and have very important, symbolic aspects to them. These stories can be found in Tales of the North American Indians, by Stith Thompson (1929).
The Dog-Husband - A girl had a dog who would become a man at night. She became pregnant and the village left for her to die. The girl gave birth to four boys and one girl that were dogs. Later she found that they as well could be human and burned their dog clothes. The children grew up to be whale hunters and great men. The village heard of them and returned. They all became chiefs of the people.
The Youth Who Joined the Deer - This hunter followed a deer but she turned into a woman. She brought him back with her to her deer people. They taught him that he must preserve all meat and bones when killing a deer. Putting all the bones in the water will revive them and bring them back to life. He taught his human family that as well but lived the rest of his life as a deer.
The Girl and the Turkeys - A poor girl had a herd of turkeys that she took care of. There was a dance in town that she wanted to go to but was too poor to attend. The turkeys helped her and did a Cinderella type of story to her. She went to the ball and for a moment forgot all about her turkeys. They left to the mountain to spend their lives in the canyons away from the Turkey herder.
The True Bride - She was hated by her stepmother. Good luck found her and was married to the chief. The stepmother tricked both the chief and her and got her killed. She was cared for by her dog, the four brothers, the bird, and the sun. Eventually, all was restored and the stepmother and that daughter were killed.
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