Almost all traditions believe in an evil eye, and most of them also have apotropaic magic. A type of magic intended to turn away and deflect this evil eye and it's misfortunes.
Dream catcher is such an apotropaic magic. Traditionally it is hung over where a baby or child sleeps. Over their cradle or bed.
The dream catcher will then ensure that it traps the evil dreams and messages.It shall not let the evil dreams cross to the baby. This way only the positive dreams shall reach the baby.
It's origin is supposed to be from the "Ojibwe" legend. According to which the "spiderwebs" protective charms originate with Spider Women, known as Asibikaashi.Who takes care of the children and the people on the land. As the Ojibwe community spread to the corners of North America it became difficult for Asibikaashi to reach all the children.So the mothers and grandmothers weave webs for the children, using willow hoops and sinew, or cordage made from plants.
Each part of the dream catcher has a meaning ,the round loop could be like the earth, the web helps catch the evil dreams, the feathers help the good dream flow smoothly the sleeping child.