The Squash Blossom Necklace
The squash blossom necklace is a distinctive and representative design of Navajo and American Native Indian jewelry. A typical design involves silver and turquoise.
There is in Indian folklore a story about a chief with turquoise colored skin. While escaping from his enemies, he stopped to rest in the hot desert. His perspiration dripped to the ground, got collected in rocks and turned into turquoise. A number of legends abound about turquoise.
The Zuni consider blue turquoise to be male and of the sky, and green turquoise to be female and of the earth. The Apache believe that they can shoot straight by putting turquoise on a gun or bow. Pueblo Indians think that the color of turquoise is taken from the sky. It is believed by the Pima that it brings good fortune and strength, and that it can cure illness.
The Hopi believe turquoise is excreted by the lizard that travels between "the above and the below" and that floods can be held back by it. The Navajo consider that turquoise can appease the Wind Spirit, and that wearing it brings good fortune.