Traditional Navajo Taboos

By Ernest Bulows

Navajo Taboos for Nature, Domestic and Wild Animals

Coyote The Trickster

Of all the figures in Navajo life and mythology, Coyote (Maii') is the most contradictory and delightful animal. Coyote is considered a god, a trickster, and an evil spirit. He can not be killed because he is powerful and contradictory.
The Coyote is important in traditional Navajo life, but he is the object with almost little taboos. Coyote always seems to be hiding or lurking just out of view. He is a shadowy figure that can be funny or fearsome.
Navajos have an omen that can also be considered as a taboo. They say that if Coyote crosses your path, turn back and do not continue your journey. If you keep traveling, something terrible will happen to you. You will be in an accident, hurt, or killed.

Natural Powers and Nature

Don't point at a rainbow with your finger. The rainbow will cut it off or break it. In the Navajo tradition it is improper to point at anything or anyone with the extended fore finger, because of the threatening connotation of the action. Navajos point with the lips. They put their lips in a type of kissing gesture. The symbolic nature of the rainbow as a manifestation of life giving rain is universal. Rainbows appear in Navajo sandpaintings. Rainbows, and anything related to water, have a strong religious significance to the Navajos.

Wind

Don't throw rocks at a whirlwind. It will throw them back and chase you.
Don't call whirlwinds a name. Evil Spirits will get you.
Don't go into a whirlwind. It will effect your heart and carry you off. Dust devils are an evil wind that blows no one any good. They seem to be animated by evil spirits.
Don't whistle or you will call up the wind!

Winds have great religious significance to Navajos. It is the source of life and breath. Traditional Navajos don't whistle too loud, or whistle for four days in a row. If the do, they say they will be calling up the wind.

High Places

It is taboo to stand on high rocks. If traditional Navajos do, they say that the rocks will grow into the sky with them. Another taboo is to not roll a rock from a mountain. The holy people put them there and it will be bad luck. Every high spot on the reservation and every unusual formation is considered as a religious symbol to the people. Navajo Yeis have favored the high ground. In several Navajo myths, the Holy People took heroes into their sky home of by being carried upward by the high rock formations. The monsters that throw people off cliffs, are said to inhabit high places so they are best avoided!

Clouds

Traditional Navajos say not to look at clouds moving in the sky. Or you will be a slow runner. Also, do not watch a river flowing swiftly, or you will get dizzy and fall in.

Laziness

Traditional Navajos believe that laziness is ugly and daydreaming is not encouraged.

Sun and the Moon

Navajos beliefs tell the people not to stare at the moon, or it will follow you. Navajos have an avoidance of thing of the night and darkness. They find lunar eclipses more significance than solar eclipses. Tradition dictates that Navajos do not eat when there is an eclipse, or they will have a swollen stomach or stomach problems. They also are not suppose to sleep during an eclipse because their eyes won't open again. Traditional Navajos are not suppose to look at an eclipse, or they will go blind. This taboo is a fact. People can go blind by looking too long at an eclipse.
The death of the sun and of the moon is a frightful and ominous thing. Blindness is the punishment of looking to long at the sun. This punishment is a fact on life for all people.

Stars

Navajos believe that they should not look at a shooting star unless they blow at it, or they will have trouble and bad luck. The also believe if they look at a falling star, there will be bad luck.

Snow

There are traditional Navajo taboos related to snow. Navajos can't catch snow when its is falling, or it will keep falling and turn into deep snow. They can not hold out their hands when it is snowing because where their had is will be how deep the snow will be. If they eat the first snow, then they will become sick. Navajos can not shake a flour sack in the winter, or the snow will get big and cause blizzards.

Other Traditional Navajo Taboos in Nature

Do not start a fire with a magnifying glass, or you will have a burning in your stomach.
Do not u will catch cold, make more rain, and cause a flood.
Lightning
Trees and rocks struck by lightning have ceremonial significance to the Navajos. However, only a qualified medicine man will touch, remove, or bother with such object.

Other Taboos related To Lightning

Do not use partly burned wood because it might be from a lightning struck tree. If you do it will cause illness or bad luck.
Do not stand up when there is lightning. If you sit down it will go away.
Do not yell when it is raining or you will be struck by lightning.
Do not have a dog or cat in the hogan during a storm because it will draw lightning.
Do not look lightning in the mirror because it will strike your hogan.
Do not kill a nighthawk or you will be struck by lightning.
Do not use aspen wood for a fire because it causes thunder and lightning.
Do not stand by the loom when it is raining because the lightning will strike you.
Do not weave when it is storming or it will cause lightning. This depends on the pattern being designed on the loom.
Do not climb a tree when it is raining because lighting might strike the tree.
Do not lean against a wall during a storm or the lightning will strike you.
Do not ride a horse during a storm or you will be struck by lightning.
Do not touch metal objects when it is raining because you will be struck by lightning.
Do not wash your hair when it is raining because you will be struck by lightning.
Do not eat an animal killed by lightning because you will be struck by lightning or get sick.
Do not play around a lightning struck tree because you will get sick.
So not call the thunder's name or the lightning will get you.
Do not do a rain dance during a rainstorm because you will be struck by lightning.
Do not lay facing the sky in a storm or the lightning will strike you.
Do not eat corn when it is raining because lightning will strike you.

Taboos Related To Pinion Nuts

Nuts from the pinon pine were a staple food for the Navajos, especially before they learned to grow corn and also during hard times. The pinon can be found throughout most of the Southwest. The nut was vital to the existence of many tribes.

Do not sleep on a pinon shell because it will go into you. You are also not showing respect. This taboo implies that the person was lazy due to leaving discarded shells in the bedding. Eating in bed is a taboo too.
Do not shake a pinon tree to get nuts because only bears do that. Behaving like a bear is bad behavior. It will also attract the bears to you.
Do not eat the nuts from a lightning struck pinion, or you will swell up and have bad luck. Some traditional Navajos believe that a pinon pine struck by lightning had been taken over by the spirits. All the nuts that this pinon tree grows are the property of the spirits.
Do not put salt on pinons because it will make it snow.
Do not burn pinon shells or the snow will be deep.
Do not throw pinon shells in water or it will be will get cold and there will be no more nuts.

These taboos suggest a lack of respect for an important Navajo food staple. There is only a short time span that these nuts can be harvested. Navajos do not like laziness and frivolous behavior when important work has to be done.

Wild Animals

Only a few wild animals or birds are considered friendly to the Navajos. Owls, crows, mice, and coyotes are considered helpers of the witches and evil spirits. When the monsters were seeking the infant Hero Twins, the owls, crow, mice, and coyotes spied for them. Cottontail rabbits are also associated with witches. While bear claws are commonly warned for their talisman's power by almost all Native Americans, Navajos avoid any parts of the bear. Antlers from elk and deer are not used. Mountain sheep horn, buffalo parts, and antelope horn are used in rituals and ceremonies. Navajos can use mountain lion skin and a few feathers. The eagle's feather is the most important feather that is used by the Navajos. Most feathers from other birds are prohibited. All water animals can be found in Navajo taboos. Snakes are associated with lightning and rain.

Wild Animals Taboos

Do not kill frogs, lizards, salamanders, and toads because it will rain and keep on raining, result in a flood, ruin your crops, you will jump around, you will become crippled, it will effect you unborn child, or it will cause paralysis and other diseases. This is one of the taboos where Anglo biology teachers have a problem. They expect Navajo students to dissect frogs or other animals that live in the water. It is taboo for any Navajo to do anything with a dead animal, especially the ones associated with water.
Do not kill horned toads because they are grandfathers or guardians of arrowheads. If you kill one you will get a stomachache, or swell up, or have a heart attack.
Do not watch a frog eat or you will have throat problems later and trouble swallowing.
Do not kill a spider unless you draw a circle around it and say, " you have no relatives." Or "a Zuni did it." If you don't its relatives will come and bite you. The reason the Zunis are blamed is the angry spiders will go seek them and bite the Zunis.
Do not urinate on an anthill because you will have trouble going to the bathroom.
Do not burn ants because red spots will cover your body or you will get a rash.
Do not burn bees because you will have a rash.
Do not throw stinkbugs in the fire or you will get a rash or sores.
Do not kill grasshoppers because it will give you a nosebleed. Bees, grasshoppers, cicadas, and many other insects are important in the Creation story and in other Navajo mythology. According to the Navajos, flies have their place in the natural order of life too.
Do not bother baby hawks or eagles because you will get a rash or sores on your body.
Do not kill moths or you will jump in a fire.
Do not count the number of legs on a centipede or the number you count will be the number of years that you have left to live.
Do not kill a bald headed insect and spider or you will go bald.
Never carry or handle feathers from ravens, crows, owls, buzzards, or most any bird because you will get boils. (Since it is difficult to know the source of many feathers it is best to leave all alone!)
Do not kill porcupines or you will get nosebleeds.
Do not spit on a spider rock or you will not be able to breathe right.
Do not put food in a bird's mouth or you will get a sore throat.
Do not kill a lizard or you will get skinny.
Do not burn any animal skin or you will get a rash.
Do not urinate on a deerskin or you will clog up.

Snakes

Snake Taboos

Do not cross a snake's path unless you slide or shuffle your feet because you will have leg aches, other diseases, or bad luck.
Do not eat in front of a snake because when you get older your throat will close.
Do not watch a snake swallow its food or your neck will swell up.
Do not open your mouth when you see a snake or he will jump in.
Do not kill snakes or lizards because it will make your heart swell, it will dry up, or you will get crooked teeth.
Do not burn a snake because you will get sores or a rash.
Do not kill a snake when it is raining or lightning will strike your house.
Do not put a snake in the open when it is dead because lightning will bring it back to life.
Do not put a dead snake on a rock or you will cause a thunderstorm and it will come back to life.
Snakes are an earthly manifestation of the Lightning People and related to the Thunders.
Killing snakes for the no reason will drive away the life giving rains and cause a drought.
Do not kill a snake with your hand or your hand will swell up.
Do not pick up things between two fingers because only snakes do that. However the thumb and the forefinger is a different motion. This taboo is to avoid Navajos behaving like an animal. The animal behavior displayed might offend the mimicked animal and offend it. The animal's power will hurt you in some way, or at least attract unwanted attention from the offended animal.
Do not step on a snake because your legs will swell up or get crooked.
Do not watch snakes mating or you will go blind.
Do not draw in the sand with your fingers or snakes will come to it.
Do not talk about snakes or they will come around.
Do not laugh at a snake or it will bite you.
Do not make faces at a snake or it will bite you some day.
Do not spit at a snake or it will come after you.
Do not watch a snake crawl out of its skin because you will get sick or jump out of your skin.
Do not shoot an arrow at a snake. It will shoot crooked and hit something else.
Do not run over s snake in your car or you will have a bad life.
Do not snake eggs or the snakes will get you.
Do not wear anything made out of snakeskin, especially boots or shoes or you will get crippled.
Do not touch a snake because it has nothing and you will have nothing.
Do not call a person a snake or one will be bite you.

Body Drawings

Bears

Other Bear Taboos

Do not step on a bear's waste because it will bother you or act like a bear.
Do not make fun of a bear or it will make you sick.
Do not step on rocks turned over by a bear or bears will chase you.
Do not walk over a bear track because you will get hairy, you can not get off the track, or you will act crazy.
Do not walk on a bear track or you will turn into a skinwalker.
Do not say "Shush" (bear) in the mountains because bears will come after you.
Do not laugh at bears or they will come after you.

Domestic Animals

Domestic Animal Taboos

Do not say bad things about your livestock or something bad will happen to them.
Do not kill a sheep or goat that is unusual, or has three horns, or is of both sexes. They are good luck and you will lose your flock if one of these animals were killed.
Do not count your sheep to much or you flock will get smaller.
Do not clap at sheep because things will happen to them and you will have a small herd.
Never put a sheep's head on the ground upright or it will go away and you will lose your herd.
Do not play with a ball when you are herding sheep or your lambs will be born deformed.
Do not throw things at the sheep or they will disappear.
Do not ride on a sheep's back or as punishment you will be hurt.
Do not waste any part of the animal after butchering or your flock will be less.
Do not burn livestock manure because you are burning the animals too.
Do not kill to many sheep at the same time because the herd will not like. They will disappear and run away.
Do not burn wood because your sheep will be poor and something will happen to them.
Do not play with the horns of a goat because one will bother you and it is bad luck for the herd.
Do not twist goats' tails because they might come off. You will have bad luck.
Do not go to sleep while you are herding sheep because a crow might take your eyes out.
Do not say, "I wish I had some meat" when you have the hiccups or your livestock won't grow.
Do not cut the tips off of a horses ears off or earmark the ears because he will become stupid and hard to manage.
Do not burn horsehair because you will lose your horses.
Do not ride a pregnant animal or make it work hard because it will lose the baby and never give birth again.
Do not watch a horse or other animals give birth or you will go blind.
Do not cut a horse's tail because it will fall of a cliff.
Do not leave deer blood where sheep can walk on it or all the wool will fall out.
Do not let your sheep or yourself walk on a deerskin or they will go crazy and run away.
Do not spit on anyone because you will owe him a white stallion.
Do not eat livestock killed by coyotes or other will animals because you will go crazy and act wild.
Do not put a rug over the head of a horse because he will go blind.

Dogs

Do not buy a dog or cat for a pet or you will get poor.
Do not open the eyes of newborn kittens or puppies because you will go blind.
Do not kill dogs because they belong to the spirits and you will become paralyzed.
Do not brand a dog as a joke or you will lose your livestock.
Do not choke a kitten or you will have throat trouble.
Do not watch a dog mate or you will go blind.
Do not watch a dog go to the bathroom or you will go crazy.
Do not give food from a ceremony to the dogs because it will spoil the ceremony.
Do not let a dog bite the Medicine man because the sing will not work.
Do not talk to dogs or other animals because they might talk back and you will die.
Do not let a dog eat in front of you when you butcher or you will lose the meat

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Pages

Traditional Navajo Taboos

Traditional Navajo Taboos

Navajo Taboos for Nature, Domestic and Wild Animals

Coyote The Trickster

Natural Powers and Nature

Wind

High Places

Clouds

Laziness

Sun and the Moon

Stars

Snow

Other Traditional Navajo Taboos in Nature

Other Taboos related To Lightning

Taboos Related To Pinion Nuts

Wild Animals

Wild Animals Taboos

Snakes

Snake Taboos

Body Drawings

Bears

Other Bear Taboos

Domestic Animals

Domestic Animal Taboos

Dogs

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