8/19/2019 ABOUT ECLIPSE.doc

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1. The sun is being eaten.

In Vietnam, people believed that a giant frog was

devouring the Sun, while in ancient China, peoplethought a hungry celestial dragon was responsible. In

Europe, the Viings blamed wolves for consuming theSun.

!. "eads will roll

#ccording to ancient "indu mythology, the demon$ahu is beheaded by the supreme deity Vishnu for

drining the nectar of the gods. "is head flies across

the sy and swallows the Sun.To scare $ahu away, it was common practice for

people to bang pots and pans and mae loud noises

during an eclipse to scare the demon away.

%. Stop& Thief&

'orean follore tells of the Sun being stolen by

mythical dogs.

(. #nger and warnings

The ancient )rees believed a solar eclipse was a signthe gods were angry, and that it heralded disasters and

destruction.

*. Settle differences

The +atammaliba people from +enin and Togo in

#frica have a legend that during an eclipse the Sun a-oon are fighting. The only way to stop the conflict

they believe, is for people on Earth to settle their

differences.

. Stay indoors

#mong modern superstitions is the belief that solar

eclipses can be a danger to pregnant women and

unborn children. In some cultures, young children ane/pectant mothers are ased to stay indoors during a

eclipse.

0. asting

In parts of India, people still fast during a solar eclip

 because of the fear that any food cooed during the

event will be poisoned.

2. #ll is not lost

# few superstitions offer a positive slant on eclipses

Italy some believe that flowers planted during a sola

eclipse will be brighter and more colourful than at another time. )et planting&