Native American Legends
Origin of the Pheasant Dance
A Cherokee Legend
In the Pheasant dance, a part of the Green-Corn dance, the instrument
used is the drum, and the dancers beat the ground with their feet
in imitation of the drumming sound made by the pheasant.
They form two concentric circles, the men being on the inside,
facing the women in the outer circle, each in turn advancing and
retreating at the signal of the drummer, who sits at one side and
sings the Pheasant songs.
According to the story, there was once a winter famine among the
birds and animals. No mast (fallen nuts) could be found in the woods,
and they were near starvation when a Pheasant discovered a holly
tree, loaded with red berries, of which the Pheasant is said to
be particularly fond.
He called his companion birds, and they formed a circle about the
tree, singing, dancing, and drumming with their wings in token of
their joy, and thus originated the Pheasant dance.
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