The reason as to why American Indian headdresses exist may not be of common knowledge, but still, people find them to be very beautiful. On contrary to popular belief, the eagle-feather war bonnet wasn't the most used American Indian headdress at the time. Also, not everyone on the tribe could wear one. Only the bravest and most powerful among the tribesmen were allowed to wear them. The history of this majestic form of clothing goes back to the Sioux Indians, the natives who created them. The composition and design of each headdress however, varied for different tribes since it served to be their trademarks, therefore making it unique from one another. When you are asked to describe a Native American headdress, what do you imagine? More often than not, these headdresses are identified by their feathers. But did you know what these feathers signify? They are not just glued together to make the Indian Headdress look cool. Most importantly, it signifies something great. Usually, a tribesman is given his first feather when an elder finds him fit to be called as an adult. And each time this tribesman does a noble deed, another feather will be added. However, the tribesman must prove to everyone that he is worthy of the headdress. One of the things he ought to do is to meditate and fast for days. In the process of creating the headdress, only the closest friends of the warrior can participate. Also, no women were allowed to help in creating them. There is no recorded documentation as to why women weren't permitted to assist in creating these headdresses. The colors of these chief headdresses were depending on the tribes' endemic birds. Since there are more birds in the forest than in the desert, tribes occupying in the forest tend to own colorful headdresses. However, the most prized of all the feathers is that of the Golden Eagle. This is because for Indians, eagles are considered messengers of God. Lastly, to make sure that these war bonnets don't fall off while being worn, a strap is put on. This is commonly made as leather or cloth. In today's time, less of this information has been passed on and perhaps, the only time we see people wearing Indian headdresses is during Halloweens. Sadly, most of the Americans nowadays have forgotten their roots and where they come from. However, there are some people that continue to look back to their heritage. Some of them manage to imprint a tattoo Indian headdress on their bodies to show appreciation to their culture. Getting a tattoo is a lifetime commitment. And having a native Indian tattoo is a good way of saying that you value your ancestors. The Native Indian tattoo meanings differ from one tribe to another and often convey secret messages. These tattoos are usually distinct and are passed down from different family members' generation to another. Today, however, the most common of these tattoos is that of an Indian skull and headdress. Since the Indian Headdress is mostly believed to be an extension of a person's soul, the Indian skull and headdress tattoo design is said to be a symbol of spirituality.
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