Editing Gourd (section)

==Uses==
Cultures from arid regions often associate [[Water canister|gourds with water]], and they appear in many [[creation myths]]. Since before human written history, they have had a multitude of uses including [[food storage]], cooking tools, toys, [[musical instruments]] and decoration.<ref name="Prance">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8ejo63Wk5rgC&q=history+gourds&pg=PT901|title=The Cultural History of Plants|publisher=Routledge|year=2012|isbn=978-1135958107|editor1=Prance|editor-first=Ghillean|editor-link=Ghillean Prance|pages=21, 348|editor2=Nesbitt|editor-first2=Mark}}</ref> Today, gourds are commonly used for a wide variety of crafts, including jewelry, furniture, dishes, utensils and a wide variety of decorations using carving, burning and other techniques such as lamps and containers for storing objects.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7qHKALAWe8QC&q=crafts+with+gourds|title=Glorious Gourd Decorating|last=Baskett|first=Mickey|publisher=Sterling Publishing Company, Inc.|year=2005|isbn=1402727755|page=9}}</ref>

Just one example of a musical instrument is the West African [[Balafon]], a [[xylophone]] that has gourds attached to the bottom of each note for [[resonance]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite encyclopedia|url=https://www.oxfordmusiconline.com/view/10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.001.0001/omo-9781561592630-e-0000001914|title=Balo |encyclopedia= Grove Music Online|publisher=Oxford University Press |doi=10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.article.01914|last1=Gourlay|first1=K. A. |last2=  Durán|first2=Lucy|year=2001 |isbn=978-1-56159-263-0 }}</ref>

<gallery widths="200px" heights="200px">
File:Calebasse.jpg|[[Calabash]] gourd, ''[[Lagenaria siceraria]]'', used for drinking ''[[mate (beverage)|mate]]''
File:Snuff Bottle (Biyanhu) with Flower Vases and Inscriptions LACMA M.45.3.333a-b.jpg|Chinese [[snuff (tobacco)|snuff]] bottle (biyanhu) with body from a gourd grown inside a mould, and a [[jade]] stopper
File:Balafoon.jpg|A ''fixed-key'' balafon, showing gourd resonators with membrane holes
</gallery>