Why People Make Noises during an Eclipse

Why People Make Noises during an Eclipse

Part one:

A long time ago, the Sun and the Moon were best friends as they were both very good mothers to their children. However, they almost never had the chance to see each other as they had to move around at different time. The Sun had to work in the day while the moon had work at night. One day they met and Sun started a conversation. “Hi, Moon it’s been a very long time since we met. How are you?” asked the Sun.

“Hi Sun, I’m fine. Everyone on the earth seems to like me more and more. They always want to see my light, especially on the full Moon!” said the Moon proudly. The Sun nodded “yes, I see people on earth really adore you so much.” Then she asked the Moon inquisitively “if you don’t mind my asking, what have you done to look so beautiful?”

After thingking for a few seconds, the Moon answered, “well, actually I swallowed my children. Since then, my light has got brighter and brighter.” 

“Is that true, Moon? You’re not lying, are you?” asked the sun curiously.

“Have I ever lied to you, Sun?” said the Moon. “So, if you want to look beautiful like me, you should eat your children. Remember, eat all of them!”

The Sun got very confused. She wasn’t very sure whether or not to believe what the Moon had told her. Eventually, the Sun was tempted to do what the Moon suggested. Thingking that the Moon would do the same, she swallowed all her children at once. She felt very sad but at the same time she also wanted to look beautiful. She waited and waited.

Part two:

But three nights later, the Sun was shocked by what she saw. There were many sparkling stars around her. She knew that they were the Moon’s children. She became very angry. She realized that she had been tricked by the Moon. The Sun was chasing the Moon everywhere. All she wanted to do was to take revenge. After a long search, she found the Moon. Knowing that the Sun was angry with her, the Moon tried to run away. “it wasn’t my fault. It was because you were so stupid!” the Sun became angry and attacked the Moon. They had a very big fight.

During the fight, the earth suddenly got very dark. Everyone on earth was scared, people tried many different ways to stop the fight. Finally they found best way. Everyone had to make a noise. They beat pans, cans or anything which produce noise while running to and fro in front of their houses. Why did they do that? They tried to scare the Sun and Moon so that they would stop fighting.

The Sun and the Moon thought the noise came from a giant’s footsteps and they were scared too and stopped fighting. Finally the darkness which covered the earth disappeared and everyone lived happily again.

(Taken from kangGuru Indonesia – SMA Year 11 page 6)