Orgin of the Booger Man---Cherokee

The Booger dance
There are many different explanations for the origin and purpose of the Booger Dance. In practice, as part of the Corn Festival, the young men would dress up with masks to poke fun at politicians, scare young children into behaving properly, and to have some fun with the girls. As the dance got into ‘full swing’ it would typically degenerate into the young men wearing the masks, chasing the young women and shaking their symbolic phallic symbols at them. The young women would run squealing in mock terror into the woods, with the Booger Man close behind. Since the women ruled the society, It was not common practice for the girls to choose their mate, and ‘ambush’ him as he neared the edge of the woods. In other cases, the girls would join in the Booger Dance and entice the Booger Man . Then the girl would lead him away into the woods to a carefully prepared spot, to claim her prize.
The Booger-Dance was called the Ghost Dance by the whites, and they were offended by the political caricatures. After the Trail of Tears Death-March, the Ghost dance was banned for nearly 100 years. It was still performed in private, but if the participants were caught, they were sent to prison.
As you can see there are several different opinions on the origin and purpose, and the web-page associated with each is included for your further study.
Watch out !!! Or the Booger Man will get you !!! in more ways than one… };-)
The Cherokee held the Booger Dance, associated with ghosts, which was performed as part of the winter ceremonies. These Booger Masks were affiliated with ghosts and spirits, and the performance during the winter months meant that the dance of the ghosts could not affect the growing vegetation and crops of the community. website )
Traditionally the Cherokees dance to ensure individual health and social welfare. These dances, performed by volunteers, were usually symbolic, were usually performed to weaken harmful powers -- to "scare away" the evil spirits -- and were a combination of dramatic art, protective medicine rites, historical documentary and prophecy. In the Booger or "Strong in magic" dances, the dancers wore masks of exaggerated human features made out of wood, colored brightly, and decorated with fur and feathers. They usually wore sheets or quilts around their shoulders. "Cherokee Booger Dancers" depicts four of the more common booger dance characters. It demonstrates their interactions and the precarious balance of all men mixing and living together.
The Booger Dance, interpreted as a ritual dramatization of Cherokee-white relations. It acts out a basic tension between old men and young men in which each fears and desires the power of the other, yet neither can exist alone. In such a context, the temporary disruption of the traditional harmonious order caused by the intrusion and rowdy behavior of the boogers serves to emphasize the need to return to normality and to control anti-social forces. Aboriginal Cherokee mythology and ceremonialism present a number of symbolic and ritual associations between the aged and certain animals. Among the birds, the eagle was considered sacred and associated with the most wise beloved man, the Uku, or town chief. While the eagle was symbolic of victory, peace, and the White Chief, the raven was unmistakably associated with the War Chief, whose native title means precisely The Raven. This bird is also associated with witches and conjuring. Older Eastern Cherokee openly admit that witches are generally old. Like the raven, the owl is also associated with old people and, more specifically, with witches, but this is not always the case. In fact, the ancient fire can also take on the appearance of an owl in order to detect the presence of witches and defend the people from their attacks. There seems to be an overall positive connection between the animal world and the aged. This positive relationship is often reflected in tribal mythology wherein animals are often featured as helpers, assistants, and even avengers for the aged.