Solar eclipse, an astrological event will be visible in India today,25th Oct 2022. This event has many debunking myths and timeless truths which will pressurize women. Let’s discuss these beliefs.
Debunking Myths
While many people are eager to witness this rare event of this year, there are several myths and tales around this phenomenon. Usually, health experts prescribe certain rules to protect our eyes during an eclipse. In olden times, people were not aware of the scientific reasons why these things happen and also believed that these are due to nature’s actions. Ancient people believed that these astronomical movements will affect the babies in the womb. Hence pregnant women were the target people for them, who had many restrictions.
Let’s look into some of the popular myths as follows:
Myths around the world
- Aztecs and ancient Mexicans believed that a lunar eclipse is the bite of the moon, if pregnant women viewed it, the unborn child would have a bite of the beast on its face.
- In Australia, the aborigines people believed the Sun was a woman god carrying a torch and the moon was a Man. Therefore, according to them, a solar eclipse is an event where man and woman unite.
- In Germany, the people believed a solar eclipse was a day when the female sun married the male groom moon.
- Native Americans described it as a visit of companions.
- West Africans treat the eclipse day as a busy day for Sun and moon, as they get together on that day and they turn off the light for their privacy.
- Tahitians believed that the orbits join together as they love each other.
- The Japanese thought that poison would drop out from the sky.
- Transylvanians believed that an eclipse would cause plague.
- Alaskan thought the dew and precipitation would cause sickness.
Myths about pregnant women
In olden times people believed that,
- If pregnant women looks at the eclipse it may cause many issues in pregnancy like birthmarks, the blindness of eye, etc.
- They should wear a sort of metal to safeguard the baby.
- They should not go outside.
- They should not use sharp objects.
- They should not eat food during that time.
- They should take a bath before and after the eclipse.
After analyzing these beliefs, the truth lies in the fact that viewing an eclipse without wearing eclipse glasses would cause burns to the retina and not about these myths. As it is an astronomical event, it cannot cause any harm to the pregnant woman.
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