Navajo Customs
The Navajo are people very geared toward family life and events that
surround their lifestyle. Many games and traditions have emerged from
their love of the land and their attachment to it. Long winter nights and
the seclusion of the reservation has brought about most of the customs and
activities used by the People to entertain and amuse themselves.
Some commonly played games by the adults and children include the moccasin
game, stick-dice game, winter string games, and several variations of games
using simple playing cards and sticks as counters.
Young Navajo people today enjoy most of the same games and activities that
other children do, such as basketball, soccer, and football. Rodeo is
still the most popular sport among young and old alike, and is a common activity
year-round.
Navajo Traditional Taboos &
Superstitions
The following taboos are not commonly practiced in modern times, although
many older people still adhere to the lore and logic handed down from their
ancestors.
 | It was once considered taboo for a young man to speak to his
mother-in-law--to do so could cause blindness, according to the medicine man. |
| It is still considered an insult to point anything with a point at
another person, whether it be an arrow, a pencil, or even a finger (Navajos
point with their lips). |
| Coyotes and bears are rarely killed by the Navajo, who prefer to
have the white man do the killing. This is in compliance with their
belief that these animals represent gods of the native religion. |
| When a baby laughs for the first time, it is given a small gift, and
a little feast is prepared for the family. This will cause the child to
be friendly and generous throughout life. |
| While shucking corn, if twin ears are discovered, they are fed to
the ewes so that they might produce twins. |
| Owls in the presence of a Navajo foretells the illness or death of a relative. |
| A crow flying over the hogan announces illness or bad luck. |
| When meeting another person with the same name, it is considered bad
luck to repeat that name. |
| It is taboo to speak the name of the deceased. |
