Rain dance is a ceremony performed by Native Americans of the southwestern United States to ask spirits to send rain for their crops. The people ask the spirits to send the rain in the proper amounts and at the right times. Native Americans hold most rain dances during the spring planting season and in the summer while the crops are growing. Each tribe has its own particular ceremonies for bringing rain. For example, participants in the rain ceremony of the Tohono O’odham tribe sing and dance and drink wine made from cactus juice. The Hopi dance with live rattlesnakes in their mouths to encourage the gods to send rain (see Snake dance ).
