A Native-American legend:

A long time ago there was a great wailing heard in our Nation.
So much pain and sorrow and so many tears.
Because of greed and power, our men were fighting and killing each other.
The women were weeping for the loss of their husbands, fathers, uncles, and sons.
As each tear drop hit the earth it made a sound that was heard throughout the heavens and beyond.
Our Grandmother Moon listened to the pain of the women of earth and went to our Creator to ask for help.
Creator, as always, listened and said, "I too have heard the wailing of the women and felt their pain. I shall send them a gift to help in their time of need.
Tell them, Grandmother, to gather at the light of the full moon, bring their drums and rattles. Build a great fire under the light of the moon and around the sacred fire, dance, sing and pray for your men."
Grandmother Moon sent Creator's words to the women on a gentle wind and all the women heard.
And so it was that they gathered with their drums, rattles, songs and their prayers.
They danced around the sacred fire under the light of the full moon and prayed for the blood shed to stop and the dying of their men to cease.
They prayed, danced, and sang until the moon went to sleep and the sun awoke.
Their prayers were heard and their gift was given.
From this day on, because your prayers were so powerful and so filled with love; you, the women, will be given the blood of life, so that the blood of violent death will cease.
Each month you will shed the blood of life, begining at the age when you will take a husband and from this blood human life will be born.
When your children are grown your bleeding will stop because you have given enough and you will grow old listening to the laughter of your grandsons and granddaughters.
The women were happy again.