Big-Man was a colossal, hairless figure whose head touched the sky when he stood. Long ago, the sky was so close to the earth that Big-Man had to crawl, leading to constant cold weather. Frustrated, he pushed the sky upward until he could stand fully, resulting in a higher sky and milder climate. Some believe he ascended to the sky-world, and that rain is his tears.
Source:
Kaska Tales
by James A. Teit
The American Folklore Society
Journal of American Folklore
Vol.30, No.118, pp. 427-473
October-December, 1917
► Themes of the story
Creation: The tale explains how the current state of the world, particularly the distance between the sky and earth and the resulting climate, came to be.
Cultural Heroes: Big-Man is a foundational figure who shapes the environment for the benefit of humanity, embodying the traits of a cultural hero.
Supernatural Beings: Big-Man himself is a supernatural entity of immense size and strength, interacting with the world in extraordinary ways.
► From the same Region or People
Learn more about the Kaska people
Big-Man was in the world very long ago. He was of huge stature, and had no hair on his head. When he stood erect, his head touched the sky. Once a long time ago the sky was very close to the earth, and therefore it was always cold weather. At this time there was no room for Big-Man. When he travelled, he had to crawl, for the sky was very low. After a time he became angry at this inconvenience, and began to push the sky up. He kept on pushing it up, until at last he was able to stand at full height. The sky was now high, and far from the earth, and this made the weather on earth much milder. Since then it has been as it is now. Big-Man was a good man, and never harmed Indians. Some think he went to the sky-world, or somewhere up above, and that the rain is his tears.
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