| If you love Native American Rattles, you | | | | rattles, vary with each tribe. You will |
| will definitely benefit from adding them | | | | find it intriguing that the various |
| to your drumming circles and powwows. | | | | tribes including the Cherokee, Navajo, |
| Rattles are intriguing Native American | | | | Apache, Pueblo, Zuni and Hopi, can all |
| icons representing Indigenous people and | | | | be recognized by the differences of the |
| their unique customs. They are also | | | | beautiful art on their hand crafts. |
| among the most used musical instruments | | | | Something these people do have in common |
| for playing in Indian ceremonies | | | | is that they all play rattles in various |
| throughout most Indian tribes. Rattles, | | | | ceremonial rituals and as part of music, |
| for hundreds of years and for the | | | | dance, medicine and spirituality. |
| majority of American Indians, have | | | | The Native rattles are really very |
| always had a great part in the spiritual | | | | exquisite and are made using a variety |
| world as well as for use in social | | | | of natural materials such as turtle |
| gatherings. | | | | shell, leather, rawhide, bead work and |
| As you study the fascinating history of | | | | Native American feathers. Fur, fringe, |
| American Indians and their use of Native | | | | seeds, rocks, antlers, horns, bones and |
| American rattles, you will learn that | | | | shells are used to create that unique |
| they are symbolic among the Indigenous | | | | Indian style. Clay beads, blue corn, |
| people and are essential to the tribal | | | | manzanita seeds or small smooth stones |
| rituals in which they are played. It is | | | | such as those found near the opening of |
| said that they represent the animal, | | | | an ant hill, are also sometimes placed |
| plant, and mineral kingdoms. The animal | | | | in the rattles to create the unique |
| kingdom is exemplified in the form of | | | | sound. |
| the container or decorative feather of | | | | Indian culture has always used music, |
| the rattle. The mineral kingdom is | | | | songs, stories and legends to express |
| represented by the stones that create | | | | their cultural beliefs and traditions to |
| the sound or also by the paint used for | | | | each other and to the outside world. It |
| the artwork depicted on the rattle. And, | | | | is in harmony with these forms of |
| the plant kingdom is symbolized by the | | | | learning that rattles have come to be a |
| handle. | | | | significant aspect in the ritualistic |
| When researching the uses of Native | | | | ceremonies of the Indigenous people. |
| American rattles and how they are | | | | That is why there is nothing more |
| played, you will find that nearly every | | | | fascinating than owning authentic Indian |
| Indigenous culture including the Navajo | | | | musical instruments and hand crafts. You |
| culture, play rattles in their | | | | can easily buy Native rattles online and |
| ceremonial rituals. Among the many | | | | sometimes in stores that sell southwest |
| variations of Indian rattles, including | | | | decor. If you are intrigued by authentic |
| the highly sought-after gourd rattles | | | | Indian musical instruments, or are |
| and turtle shell rattles, the simple | | | | trying to find the best instrument to |
| rawhide rattle is the most used in | | | | play in your drumming ceremonies, you |
| Native American tribes. The figures, | | | | will definitely enjoy the wonderful |
| such as the Navajo bear or Navajo eagle, | | | | sound of Native American rattles. |
| used in the artwork pictured on the | | | | |