Grasshoppers are the oldest living group of herbivorous insects, dating back to the early Triassic, about 250 million years ago. They are everywhere in the world.

The symbolism of grasshoppers varies across different cultures and time periods, but here are some of the most common interpretations:

• Good Luck and Prosperity - In many cultures, the grasshopper is seen as a bringer of good fortune. Their appearance is often associated with bountiful harvests and prosperity. 

• Freedom and Agility - Their incredible leaping ability symbolizes freedom and the ability to overcome obstacles. They represent the power of movement and the joy of liberation. 

• Happiness and Joy - In Chinese culture, the grasshopper is a symbol of happiness and joy. Their cheerful chirping sounds are often associated with positive emotions. 

• Nobility and Immortality - In ancient Greece, grasshoppers were associated with Apollo, the god of music, poetry, and the sun. They were seen as symbols of nobility and immortality. 

• Resilience and Adaptability - Grasshoppers are known for their ability to thrive in various environments. This symbolizes resilience, adaptability, and the ability to overcome challenges. 

• Musical Inspiration - The unique sounds made by grasshoppers have been a source of inspiration for musicians and poets throughout history.

Grasshoppers in Different Cultures

Grasshoppers have been used as symbols in ancient cultures in a variety of ways, including:

Africas

• Music & Dance: In certain regions, the chirping of grasshoppers is seen as a source of inspiration for music and dance.
• Burkina Faso - The Mossi have a proverb that says "The grasshopper holds on to the plant host, but falls when the host collapses".
• Chad - In Ngambaye, parents tell children "You are not a cricket" to mean that they should obey their parents.
• Ancient Egypt - Grasshoppers were a common motif in ncient Egyptian art, and were used as hieroglyphs, seals, amulets, and symbols of beauty. They also represented life along the Nile. 
• Egypt - In Egyptian iconography, grasshoppers are often depicted in red, or made from red jasper or red-brown earthenware. 
• Madagascar - There are several proverbs about grasshoppers in Madagascar, including "You cannot catch the laying grasshoppers and sleep at the same time" and "the one who just married is not yet used to the household and goes hunting locusts in the evening". 

Americas

• Tricksters & Shapeshifters: In some indigenous South American mythologies, grasshoppers are sometimes depicted as trickster figures or shapeshifters, capable of taking on various forms. 
• Aztec - Grasshoppers were an important part of Aztec culture and mythology. They were eaten, and the Chapultepec Hill, which was a geographical marker for the Toltecs, was associated with grasshoppers. Grasshoppers could represent fertility and imperial success, but they could also transform into locusts that destroyed crops and caused famine. 

• Mexico - In many parts of Mexico, grasshoppers are a traditional food source (chapulines). They symbolize both sustenance and the connection to the land and traditional ways of life.

• Native American Cultures (Varies by Tribe) Many tribes view grasshoppers as symbols of freedom, representing the unhindered spirit and the ability to soar above limitations. Some tribes believe grasshoppers are messengers from the spirit world, carrying important messages or warnings. Their ability to thrive in diverse environments makes them symbols of resilience and the ability to adapt to changing circumstances.
• Modern US - Grasshoppers are strongly associated with summer and warm weather, evoking feelings of relaxation, carefree enjoyment, and the beauty of nature. Their powerful leaps and ability to navigate diverse environments symbolize freedom, the ability to overcome obstacles, and the importance of seizing opportunities. Grasshoppers are known for their ability to thrive in various conditions, making them symbols of resilience, adaptability, and the ability to overcome challenges. Their impressive jumping ability can also symbolize taking risks, making bold moves, and having the courage to pursue one's dreams. 

Ancient Greece

• Nobility & Immortality - Grasshoppers were closely associated with Apollo, the god of music, poetry, and the sun. They symbolized the ideals of nobility, immortality, and artistic inspiration. They were a symbol of the people of Athens, or the polis. Thucydides wrote that the people of Athens wore golden grasshopper pins in their hair.

 

Australia

• Bush Spirit: In some Aboriginal Australian cultures, grasshoppers are seen as manifestations of the "Bush Spirit," representing the wildness and untamed energy of the natural world.