Legend of the Cedar Tree
As told by Dancing Eagle Jack

   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 twos… 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.
Cherokee Book of Legends.
Dancing Eagle
Jack