Answer to Question #220823 in English for Zee

Question

Discuss the historical beliefs about eclipses in relation to your culture. In your culture, what does an eclipse of any type mean to your context? How do these beliefs relate to the indigenous knowledge system? Are there still practices in your culture that are related to eclipses?

Answer 1

The historical beliefs about eclipse include the belief that a celestial dragon was thought to lunch on the Sun, causing a solar eclipse. Another belief is that the eclipse meant that the sun and moon had become temporarily diseased. In response, people would cover up everything of importance – themselves included – lest they be infected by the “diseased” rays of the eclipsed sun.

An eclipse of any type in my culture means during a total solar eclipse for example, the sun was being eaten by two wolves known as. According to legend, these two wolves were hungry for celestial bodies that is the moon and the sun. During an eclipse, they believed that the wolves had caught up to their prey. People would hoot and holler in an effort to scare the wolves away and allow the Moon to pass by the Sun.

Indigenous knowledge systems comprises knowledge developed within indigenous societies, independent of, and prior to, the advent of the modern scientific knowledge system. The indigenous knowledge system relates to these beliefs as it records the beliefs of the traditional people about eclipses.

No, the practices in my culture that are related to eclipses do not exist anymore.