The legend of the flea people

The Yokut Native American tribe of the California Central Valley saw the three bright stars of the Pleiades constellation as the foot prints of the god of the flea people.



According to legend, when the flea's five wives became itchy and ran away, three times the god of the flea people jumped into the sky to look for them. When his footprints cannot be seen (stars drop below the horizon winter months) the flea people grow afraid and go into hiding (i.e. dormant). This helped explain to the tribal people why they couldn't count on those stars for guides in winter months, and why there were no fleas about.

Read more about the Yokut people