A long time ago when the Cherokee people were new upon the earth, they
thought that life would be much better if there was never any night.
They
beseeched the Creator that it might be day all the time and that there
would be no darkness. The Creator heard their voices and made the night
cease and it was day all the time. Soon the forest was thick with heavy
growth. It became difficult to walk and to find the path. The people
toiled in the gardens many long hours trying to keep the weeds pulled
from among the corn and other food plants.
It got hot, very hot, and continued that way day after long day. The
people began to find it difficult to sleep and became short tempered
and
argued among themselves. Not many days had passed before the people
realized they had made a mistake and, once again, they beseeched the
Creator. "Please," they said, "we have made a mistake in asking that it
be day all the time. Now we think that it should be night all the
time."
The Creator paused at this new request and thought that perhaps the
people may be right even though all things were created in twosâÇ
representing to us day and night, life and death, good and evil, times
of
plenty and those times of famine. The Creator loved the people and
decided to make it night all the time as they had asked.
The day ceased and night fell upon the earth. Soon, the crops stopped
growing and it became very cold. The people spent much of their time
gathering wood for the fires. They could not see to hunt meat and with
no
crops growing, it was not long before the people were cold, weak, and
very hungry. Many of the people died.
Those that remained still living gathered once again to beseech the
Creator. "Help us Creator," they cried! "We have made a terrible
mistake.
You had made the day and the night perfect, and as it should be, from
the
beginning.
We ask that you forgive us and make the day and night as it was
before."
Once again the Creator listened to the request of the people. The day
and
the night became as the people had asked, as it had been in the
beginning.
Each day was divided between light and darkness. The weather became
more
pleasant, and the crops began to grow again. Game was plentiful and the
hunting was good. The people had plenty to eat and there was not much
sickness.
The people treated each other with compassion and respect. It was good
to
be alive. The people thanked the Creator for their life and for the
food
they had to eat.
The Creator accepted the gratitude of the people and was glad to see
them
smiling again. However, during the time of the long day of night, many
of
the people had died, and the Creator was sorry they had perished
because
of the night. The Creator placed their spirits in a newly created tree.
This trees was named a-tsi-na tlu-gv {ah-see-na loo-guh} cedar tree.
When
you smell the aroma of the cedar tree or gaze upon it standing in the
forest, remember that if you are Tsalagi Cherokee, you are looking upon
your ancestor. Tradition holds that the wood of the cedar tree holds
powerful protective spirits for the Cherokee. Many carry a small piece
of
cedar wood in their medicine bags worn around the neck. It is also
placed
above the entrances to the house and the needles are burned to protect
against the entry of evil spirits.