The hummingbird of the south is a mythical creature that has been part of folklore in South America and parts of North America for centuries. It is known by many names across different cultures, but the core elements of the myth remain the same. The hummingbird is seen as a magical creature that brings luck, joy, and prosperity.
What does the hummingbird symbolize?
The hummingbird symbolizes many positive attributes across different cultures:
- Joy and happiness – Hummingbirds are seen as bringers of joy with their energetic and lively nature.
- Energy and vigor – The fast flapping wings and darting movements represent bursting energy.
- Playfulness and youthfulness – Their curious and playful personalities symbolize youthful energy.
- Nimble and quick – Hummingbirds are one of the fastest and most agile birds, representing speed and quick reflexes.
- Resurrection and renewal – In some cultures, hummingbirds symbolize resurrection and renewal since they appear to “die” at night but are reborn at dawn.
- Good luck and prosperity – Spotting a hummingbird or its feathers is considered good luck across many cultures.
- Messengers – Hummingbirds are sometimes seen as messengers from the spiritual realms.
So in essence, the hummingbird represents positivity, joy, vigor, agility, renewal, and good fortune in the myths and folklore of South and North America.
What are some hummingbird legends and myths?
There are many legends and myths around hummingbirds across indigenous cultures of the Americas. Here are some prominent ones:
Aztec Legend
- When the Aztec people were on a long and arduous journey to find their homeland, they received a sign from their gods that they had found the right place. The sign was a hummingbird leading them to a lake with a cactus growing in the middle. There they established the city of Tenochtitlan, which is now Mexico City.
- The Aztec considered the hummingbird a sacred creature and a symbol of vigor and energy. Killing or harming a hummingbird was prohibited in their culture.
Mayan Legend
- Mayans considered hummingbirds to be the reincarnation of dead warriors. When a warrior died in battle, his soul was believed to be embodied in the form of a hummingbird.
- Mayans also saw the darting movements of hummingbirds as a sign to evade arrows in battle, making hummingbirds a symbol of agility.
Cherokee Legend
- Cherokees believed hummingbirds were responsible for bringing flowers into the world. At the beginning of time, plants had no bright colors or fragrance. The hummingbird traveled far and wide collecting flower colors and essences, bringing them back to adorn the previously drab plants.
- The Cherokee also associated hummingbirds with love, believing the fast beating of their wings represented a loving heart.
Quechua Legend
- Within Quechua folklore, hummingbirds are considered magical creatures. Legend says they originated from women who were turned into the tiny birds by jealous husbands or after escaping sexual predators.
- It’s believed that hummingbirds remember their human lives. If a woman sees a hummingbird nearby, it’s possibly her ancestor come to provide guidance and comfort.
What role does the hummingbird play in Native American culture?
The hummingbird holds great cultural significance among many Native American tribes, fulfilling various symbolic roles:
Messenger:
- Hummingbirds are perceived as messengers of good luck and joy in many Native cultures. Their appearance signifies good things to come.
- They may also act as a communication bridge between the spiritual and earthly realms, conveying messages and prayers.
Healer:
- Hummingbirds play a role in Native healing ceremonies, either through their physical form or symbolically.
- Their medicinal uses include using hummingbird feathers, nests, eggs, and body parts in healing rituals and potions.
- They represent mental and emotional healing through their uplifting energy.
Reminder of ancestral spirits:
- The fast darting of hummingbirds is seen by some Native tribes as deceased ancestors nearby.
- Their sudden appearance may remind people to recall their departed loved ones.
Connection to nature:
- Hummingbirds have a deep connection with flowers and natural landscapes.
- They serve as a reminder of the importance of protecting the environment.
- Their presence indicates nature is in proper balance.
So in essence, hummingbirds link Native people to their ancestral spirits, natural environments, and health practices. They provide an uplifting message when they appear.
Are there any hummingbird mythology stories?
There are a number of prominent stories and myths around hummingbirds in Native American cultures:
The hummingbird brings pipe to the Anishinaabe:
- In this legend, the Anishinaabe people did not have the sacred pipe for ceremonies. A young boy had a vivid dream of a red hummingbird telling him where to find the pipe.
- He found it at the spot depicted in the dream, and the hummingbird guided him back safely. So the hummingbird brought the gift of the sacred pipe.
Grandmother Spider Steals the Sun:
- In Cherokee tradition, Grandmother Spider stole the sun from a village of selfish people and gave it to the rest of the world. She captured the sun in a clay pot but the heat made her drop it.
- The hummingbird dove through the crack and took the sun on its back. It released only a tiny bit of sun at a time so the whole world could benefit from it.
How Hummingbird Got Its Color:
- A Zuni tale describes how the originally plain hummingbird got its colorful feathers. The hummingbird charmed all the flowers and plants into giving him some of their best colors.
- His flashy new look made the other birds jealous. But despite their efforts, they could not match the hummingbird’s colors.
Coyote and Hummingbird:
- In a Navajo story, the cunning Coyote tried to con the trusting hummingbird into giving up his beautiful feathers and clothes. But the little bird saw through his lies in time.
- The hummingbird’s intelligence and perception made him immune to manipulation.
What is the role of the hummingbird in Mexican folklore?
The hummingbird, or colibrí in Spanish, holds an important place in Mexican folklore and culture:
Joy and vitality:
- Hummingbirds represent joy and vitality in Mexican culture. Their fast movements and drinking of nectar symbolize an enthusiasm for life.
Love and romance:
- The hummingbird’s delicate nature and interaction with flowers has made it an icon of love in Mexico. Hummingbird imagery is common in Mexican love songs and poetry.
Celebrations and decorations:
- Hummingbird symbols are used frequently in Mexican parties and celebrations as decorative accents. Their bright colors and appeal bring a festive mood.
Wisdom and good luck:
- Some believe seeing a hummingbird hovering nearby signifies impending wisdom or good fortune.
Souls of warriors:
- Ancient Aztec and other Nahua groups considered hummingbirds the manifested souls of honored warriors who died in battle or as sacrifices.
Connection with the divine:
- Hummingbirds’ ability to fly backwards symbolizes for some a link to the spirit world or divine.
So whether seen as bringers of joy, love, wisdom, or linked to divinity, the hummingbird remains an iconic and mystical part of Mexican culture.
What are some common hummingbird myths and legends in South America?
There are diverse hummingbird myths across South America, though some common themes emerge:
Bringers of life:
- Many South American groups traditionally believed hummingbirds magically brought life to flowers and people. Their long beaks symbolized dispensing life energy.
Resurrection:
- Because they rapidly revive when released after capture, hummingbirds represented resurrection and renewal to many South Americans.
Royalty:
- Due to their exotic appearance and rarity, some indigenous peoples saw hummingbirds as sacred royal birds associated with leadership.
Charm and intelligence:
- Hummingbirds were considered exceptionally charming but also cunning and intelligent in many Andean and Amazonian tales.
Gluttony:
- Their constant hunger for nectar earned them a reputation for greediness in some South American legends.
Warriors and healers:
- Many tales portray hummingbirds as fierce warriors but also as healers due to their medicinal knowledge from harvesting plants.
How were hummingbirds featured in art and jewelry of pre-Columbian cultures?
Hummingbirds were artistically significant for pre-Columbian civilizations and appeared on jewelry, pottery, sculptures, and more:
Jewelry:
- Aztecs fashioned hummingbird pendants, earrings, and bracelets from gold, turquoise, jade, and brightly colored feathers. Both nobles and commoners wore this jewelry.
Pottery and ceramics:
- Many Mesoamerican and Andean pottery vessels featured hummingbirds motifs. Moche ceramics often depicted hummingbirds with elaborate tail plumes drinking from flowers.
Textiles:
- Hummingbirds were woven into fabrics, embroidered onto clothing, and incorporated into tapestries across ancient Latin America. Their iridescence was reproduced with feathers and dyed fibers.
Sculptures:
- The Aztecs, Mayans, and other groups made stone and jade figurines and statues of hummingbirds. Some were small amulets while others were quite large.
Body art and masks:
- Tattoos with hummingbird motifs adorned both people and ritual objects. Hummingbird elements also featured heavily on ceremonial masks.
So hummingbird artworks signified their mythic symbolism while also displaying the skills and creativity of the artisans. Their bright colors and delicacy made them a popular choice of subject.
What role did hummingbirds play in the folklore of North American tribes?
Hummingbirds feature prominently in the oral traditions of many North American native groups:
Pollination:
- Some North American tribes credit hummingbirds with teaching wildflowers and plants how to bloom. Their wings spread pollen from one flower to another.
Rain-makers:
- Hummingbirds’ fast wings were thought by some to mimic falling rain. Seeing many hummingbirds could signify rain was imminent.
Fire-bringers:
- Cahuilla and other Southwestern tribes have myths of hummingbirds acquiring fire from lightning strikes and distributing it across the land to share with humans.
Shape-shifters:
- The Blackfeet and other northern tribes believed hummingbirds could shapeshift into humans. They were associated with magic and mystery.
Love charms:
- Some California and Northwest coast tribes considered hummingbird feathers lucky love charms. They were viewed as potent symbols of courtship.
So hummingbirds had varied symbolic roles related to natural forces, spiritual beings, romance, and sorcery in North American oral history.
How were hummingbirds depicted in the art of Native North Americans?
Hummingbirds frequently appeared in Native North American artworks, especially of the Southwest and West coast tribes:
Totem poles and masks:
- Northwest native groups like the Haida carved hummingbirds on totem poles to pay homage to their ancestors. Hummingbird masks were used in dances and rituals.
Petroglyphs and pictographs:
- Rock art and cave paintings of the Southwest often included stylized hummingbird symbols as motifs or clan signatures.
Jewelry and ornaments:
- Hummingbird pendants, rings, and earrings made of shell, turquoise, and silver were common, especially among Southwestern tribes like the Navajo and Pueblo peoples.
Pottery:
- Ceramic hummingbird effigies and imagery decorated pottery of the Ancestral Puebloans, Mogollon, Hohokam, and other Southwestern groups.
Baskets:
- California tribes wove tiny hummingbird motifs into their intricate basket designs using strands of different colored grasses.
So hummingbirds were an integral decorative element in Native American artworks from the Pacific Northwest down to the Southwest.
Conclusion
The hummingbird is a captivating creature that has earned an iconic place in the myths, culture and art of indigenous peoples across the Americas. From Andean tales of magical resurrection to Cherokee legends of vigorous flower-spreading, hummingbirds symbolize many cherished traits. Their tenacity, healing power, charm, intelligence and connections to the spirit realm gave them great cultural significance. While the hummingbird myths vary greatly between tribes and regions, they share in common visions of this delicate bird as mighty, lucky, swift and mystical. Whether in the form of a story, song, mask, pendant or ceramic vessel, the hummingbird was an important American folkloric figure that continues to spread joy and wonder today.
