Moon Folklore from around the World
Have you ever seen the “Man in the Moon”? Many of us today grew up seeing a face in the Moon, and we’re not the first to do so! For centuries, people have imagined characters and events to help them understand the Moon’s phases. Here’s a collection of mythical Moon stories from around the world, courtesy of The Old Farmer’s Almanac for Kids!
Moon Mythology
Incas of Peru:
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The ancient Incas called their Moon goddess Mama Quilla, who cried silver tears. They believed that lunar eclipses were caused by an animal or serpent attacking Mama Quilla. Their custom was to try to scare away eclipses by making as much noise as possible.
Finland:
In Finnish mythology, Ilmatar, daughter of the air, allowed a duck to lay its eggs on her knee. The eggs fell, and the whites became the Moon, the yolks became the Sun, and the fragments of shell became the stars.
Babylon:
The Babylonian moon god, Sim, had a beard of Lapis Lazuli, a deep blue gemstone, and rode a winged bull. He represented the number 30, the number of days in a lunar month.
Greece:
In Greek mythology, the Moon goddess Selene, sister of Helios, the Sun, drives a silver chariot drawn by two snow-white horses across the sky each night.
Find more myths and stories about the Moon in The Old Farmer’s Almanac for Kids, available now!
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