Solar Eclipse Superstitions

Parts of the United States will have the opportunity to view a total solar eclipse on August 21. Today, we know the science behind eclipses and why they happen. In ancient times, the science was still unknown, so many cultures had their own reasons for why the sun seemed to vanish from the sky.

For example, some Native American tribes tell the story of a bear that got into a fight with the sun and took a bite out of it, explaining the appearance of a partial eclipse. Many other cultures have similar stories of dogs, dragons, and even frogs either biting or stealing the sun. The Tewa Native American tribe in New Mexico believed a solar eclipse signaled an angry sun that went to its hours in the underworld.

In ancient Greece, it was believed an eclipse was a sign of gods becoming angry and signaling destruction. Many people across the world still view eclipses as bad omens today. It is believed in some cultures that solar eclipses are dangerous for pregnant women, and they are told to stay indoors during an eclipse. In India, people believe that food cooked during an eclipse is poisonous and unpure, so they fast during an eclipse.

Luckily, not all solar eclipse superstitions are bad! In Italy, it’s believed that flowers planted during an eclipse are more colorful than those planted at any other time of the year.

Folklore aside, an event like this has not happened in the United States since 1979, so make sure to catch a glimpse of the partial eclipse here on Delmarva.