It's an Eclipse Weekend. Get Outside and Check It Out. And Maybe Perform a Little Dance to Chase Away the Evil Spirits.
Love me an eclipse. And we have a big one this weekend. Here’s everything you need to know about the eclipse including the how and where to see it. Have Fun.
How to Watch the Annular Eclipse This Weekend.
How Some of the Ancient Societies Dealt With Eclipses
- Ancient China - It’s a plane. It’s a bird. No, it’s a dragon eating it’s way across the sky and devouring the sun. Eclipses were viewed as bad omens and usually a sign that the emperor had pissed someone off and lost the Mandate from Heaven (MfH). The MfH was their divine approval to rule. They’d bang drums, and pots, and dance a little to scare the dragon away from the sun. Dragon is scared away and the Mandate from Heaven restored. Everyone’s happy again and partied out.
- Ancient Maya - The Mayans knew their shit and were excellent astronomers. They predicted most of the solar and lunar eclipses. However, knowing they were coming didn’t stop them from being scared. Eclipses played a critical part in their calendars and in their rituals. Can’t have the Gods upset. The eclipse was seen as a threat to the sun by underworld type Gods. Rituals and ceremonies abounded, appeasing the Gods, and protecting the sun. Probably not a good time to be a captured prisoner of war. Mayans were know to throw down a human sacrifices or two to appease the Gods.
- Medieval Europe - As usual, in Europe, everything caused a lot of fear, dread, and apprehension. God was mighty and known to lose his temper, and wipe out a ton of people, for whatever upset him. The Vikings thought eclipses were caused by two wolves, Sköll and Hati, chasing and catching, either the sun or the moon, and if not stopped would end the world. Similar to China, lots of banging of drums, and shields, and pans occurred but with a lot more mead consumption, driving away the wolves. And thus saving the world. But with bigger hangovers.
So do a little dance this weekend. Can’t hurt right?
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