Spirit in the sky

Eclipses have long confounded humans. Here are some age-old explanations

In Norse mythology, the sun and moon — Sól and Mani — are sister and brother driving a chariot across the sky. As the story goes, it’s a perilous journey, as the siblings are being chased by a pair of giant wolves, Hati and Sköll. Occasionally, one of the wolves catches up with the chariot, trying to swallow one of the siblings, causing either a solar or lunar eclipse. The Norse believed that the end of the world, Ragnarök, would begin when the sun and moon were devoured, so during eclipses, they would make as much noise as possible to try to frighten the wolf into dropping Sól or Mani.

Several cultures describe the sun and moon as lovers. They either live busy lives, barely seeing each other, or have a contentious relationship and choose to be apart. But when the sun and moon are together, their lovemaking causes the eclipse. In some stories, they have turned off the light for modesty.

In the Choctaw tradition in North America, solar eclipses are brought on by extremely hungry large black squirrels determined to eat the sun. To scare off the rodents, believers make noise — shouting, banging pots, getting dogs to bark — or throw sticks or shoot arrows or guns at the darkening sun.

In Hindu astrology, Rahu is a demon who manages to swallow a bit of the elixir of immortality, only meant to be consumed by the gods. But Surya (the sun) and Chandra (the moon) catch him and alert Vishnu, protector of the universe. Enraged, Vishnu cuts off Rahu’s head, which survives because of the elixir. His head becomes a shadow planet, constantly pursuing and attempting to eat Surya and Chandra for exposing him. Since Rahu is only a dismembered head, when he is successful, the sun and moon fall from his neck, creating temporary eclipses.