GRANDMOTHER SPINS A WEB AROUND THE SUN

Cherokee

There was a time when Earth was entirely covered in darkness, and all inhabitants were Animal. Sometimes the animals would gather for Council meetings, led by Wolf. During one of the meetings many of the animals complained: “We are tired of the darkness and want to have some variety. We want some light.”

“What would you have me do about this?” Wolf asked.
“Send someone to steal a piece of the sun,” Coyote said.
“I will send you,” Wolf said.
“But I cannot fly,” said Coyote.
“Send me, send me, send me,” squawked Raven.
“Of course!” exclaimed Wolf, thinking it was good idea.

And so, Raven began his long journey, flying high and fast. But, when he neared the sun, he could not slow down, and crashed right into its heat. All his feathers were singed. He returned to Earth with shame, and without a piece of the sun.

“Now what?” asked Coyote.
“We must send someone else,” said Wolf.
“I can go,” volunteered Opossum.
“Yes, yes,” said Wolf, “This is a good idea.”

Off went Opossum, whisking his tail gracefully, until he reached the sun. But the sun was too hot, and it singed all the hair from his tail.

“This is hopeless,” complained Coyote.
“What to do?” sighed Wolf.
“Excuse me,” said a meek little voice. “My name is Grandmother Spider. I am small and unimportant. But I am old and wise, and know how to bring a piece of the sun to cast light upon Earth.”  Grandmother Spider set about her work spinning a magic web which she traveled along until she neared the sun. She spun a second magic web around herself to protect her from the heat, and a third magic web, which she used to lasso a giant piece of the sun. She towed this flaming ball of light through the sky, then used her magic lasso to suspend it above Earth.

And that is why Earth has a piece of the sun, Raven is black, Opossum has no hair on his tail, and a spider’s web most closely resembles the shape of the sun.

If you down this, ask Grandmother Spider.

From Traditional Stories and Foods: An American Indian Remembers, by Joan Leslie Woodruff