LEARN * DREAM * AWAKEN* DISCOVER * ENLIGHTEN * INVESTIGATE * QUESTION * EXPLORE

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C I N C I N C T B OMBYCIDA Butterfly ymbolism in Focus This nrichment4you -guide provides a brief overview of butterfly

of: the ancient Greeks, Native American Indians, Mesoamerica cultures, Christianity, Medieval beliefs, & Asian cultures.

1 C I N C I N C T B OMBYCIDA Butterfly ymbolism in Focus This nrichment4you -guide provides a brief overview of butterfly symbolism In this e-guide you will: *Basic Information About the Historic & Cultural ymbolism of Butterflies including those of: the ancient Greeks, Native American Indians, Mesoamerica cultures, Christianity, Medieval beliefs, & Asian cultures. *Make an Altered Clay Butterfly with Cultural ymbols NRICHMNT4YOU Published by Henrich Incorporated Copyright 2005 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying or otherwise, without first obtaining the written permission of the copyright owner. Insects Butterflies

2 ABOUT THI NRICHMNT GUID This enrichment guide is designed to introduce you to butterfly symbolism. This nrichment4you e-guide has two main sections: 1. Basic Information About the Historic & cultural ymbolism of Butterflies including those of: the ancient Greeks, Native American Indians, Mesoamerica cultures, Christianity, Medieval beliefs, & Asian cultures - Pages *Make an Altered Clay Butterfly with Cultural ymbols - Pages Insects Butterflies

Butterflies are enjoyed throughout the world for their beautiful colors, patterns and shapes. They are also honored with numerous stories, poems, and legends.

3 Butterflies are enjoyed throughout the world for their beautiful colors, patterns and shapes. They are also honored with numerous stories, poems, and legends. Butterflies symbolize many different things depending on where you live in the world. ome people viewed them as good while others associated them with bad. In general, butterflies have symbolized rebirth, lightness, the arrival of new life. B U T T R F L I To A Butterfly TAY near me do not take thy flight! A little longer stay in sight! Much converse do I find I thee, Historian of my infancy! Float near me; do not yet depart! Dead times revive in thee: Thou bring st, gay creature as thou art! A solemn image to my heart, My father s family! Oh! pleasant, pleasant were the days, The time, when, in our childish plays, My sister mmeline and I Together chased the butterfly! A very hunter did I rush Upon the prey: with leaps and spring I followed on from brake to bush; But she, God love her, feared to brush The dust from off its wings. -William Wordsworth COR CONCPT Medieval Beliefs Medieval people viewed butterflies as indicators of spring. Great flocks of butterflies were viewed as bad omens which predicted future epidemics and wars. Medieval fairies and angels were often shown with butterfly wings. Medieval people use to think butterflies were witches who disguised themselves to steal butter, milk and cream from people s homes. Insects 1 Butterflies

4 Omens Of birth & death & rebirth As beautiful as they are, butterflies symbolize both life and death in many cultures. Birth is represented through the laying and hatching of eggs. The caterpillar was looked upon as a human - lowly, waiting to be transformed at death. It was believed in early America, that a white butterfly would foretell of death if it entered your home and circled around you. amoans believed they would die if they captured a butterfly. The ancient Celts believed that butterflies flying at night would foretell of impending death. Christians saw the pupa stage as a time of transformation. The emerging butterfly symbolized the resurrection. COR CONCPT Insects 2 Butterflies uropean Beliefs The Irish view butterflies as the souls of the dead waiting for passage through purgatory. The Romanians believed butterflies were the results of Mary s tears. The Germans use the expression butterflies in the stomach to describe someone who is in love. The lavic people will open a window or door at a person s death so it can leave the body as a butterfly. The Finish people consider the butterfly the soul of a dreaming person that flutters above the sleeping person. erbians view the butterfly as the soul of a witch. They believe that if they discover her body and turn it in a different direction while she is asleep, her soul will be confused and not be able to re-enter her mouth thus causing her to perish.

5 Omens People are forever tying the unknown with the known. Of Marriage & Health Omens of good and bad events were associated with butterflies as well. For example, many cultures associated butterflies as an omen of a future marriage and good health. For example in Ruthenia, a red butterfly symbolized good health. It was believed that the red was connected to red blood. COR CONCPT Insects 3 Butterflies Asian Belief In ancient China, the name butterfly philosopher was given to Chuang-tse, because he once described himself as a butterfly. The Chinese give a jade butterfly as a gift to newlyweds. It is their belief that a butterfly symbolized a wedding of souls. Both the Chinese and Japanese view butterflies as symbols of happiness and joy. The butterfly in Japan is the symbol of womanhood. In Bangladesh butterflies are viewed as good luck symbols. In umatra, a tribe believes they are the descendents of butterfly eggs. The Naga tribes of Manipur in Madagascar believe their ancestors came from a butterfly.

6 Butterflies have also symbolized abundance or a good future harvest. Omens Of a good harvest The Hopi Indians have a ceremonial dance called the Butterfly dance of Bulitikibi. This dance was to thank the gods for providing a successful harvest. In ancient Mexico, the butterfly symbolized the earth s fertility or ability to provide a harvest. Blackfoot ymbol for Butterfly Awatobi ymbol for Butterfly COR CONCPT An Irish Blessing May the wings of the butterfly kiss the sun, and find your shoulder to light on To bring you luck, happiness and riches today, tomorrow and beyond. Insects 4 Butterflies Native Americans The hoshone Indians believed that butterflies once began as pebbles that received life when the Great pirit blew upon them. The Zuni people thought butterflies could tell the weather and when the summer season would begin. The Blackfeet Indians thought dreams were carried to people by butterflies. The Arapaho Indians view the butterfly as a symbol for the Morning tar. Unmarried Hopi girls wore their hair in an elaborate butterfly wing style. North American Indians depicted butterflies in a number of their everyday items. The Hopi had carved kachinas, the Blackfoot and Awatobi Indians used symbols to represent the butterfly and the Mimbres and Zuni incorporated stylized butterfly designs into their pottery.

Please initial and date as your child has completely mastered reading each column.

Please initial and date as your child has completely mastered reading each column. go the red don t help away three please look we big fast at see funny take run want its read me this but know here ride from she come in first let get will be how down for as all jump one blue make said