These traditional Native American flutes are known by several
names, the most common being love flutes, or courting flutes.
As the name suggests, they were flutes played in courting
rituals - by a young man serenading his intended bride.
Generally they were played for no other reason, although some
men are known to have played them for their wives as a sign of
love.
Courtship was not the private affair that western culture takes
for granted. Most courting was very formal, and took place in
full view of the rest of the tribe. When a young man courted a
woman he was dressed and painted in his finest . He carried a
special blanket, woven by the female members of his family.
There, standing together under the watchful eyes of the tribe,
they whispered together - the only form of "privacy" afforded
them. A popular girl might have a row of young men waiting for
her, each carrying his own courting blanket to wrap her close
to him.
names, the most common being love flutes, or courting flutes.
As the name suggests, they were flutes played in courting
rituals - by a young man serenading his intended bride.
Generally they were played for no other reason, although some
men are known to have played them for their wives as a sign of
love.
Courtship was not the private affair that western culture takes
for granted. Most courting was very formal, and took place in
full view of the rest of the tribe. When a young man courted a
woman he was dressed and painted in his finest . He carried a
special blanket, woven by the female members of his family.
There, standing together under the watchful eyes of the tribe,
they whispered together - the only form of "privacy" afforded
them. A popular girl might have a row of young men waiting for
her, each carrying his own courting blanket to wrap her close
to him.
| The History of the Love Flute |