Blood moon mysteries: Tradition, belief and the science of eclipses

 The striking red glow, caused by the Earth passing directly between the sun and the moon, has long captivated the human imagination, inspiring myths, fears, and spiritual interpretations across cultures.

NASA explains the phenomenon as sunlight bending through the Earth’s atmosphere during the eclipse, scattering blue light and leaving only shades of red to illuminate the moon.

 Yet long before science demystified the spectacle, communities across the world interpreted it through the lens of faith and folklore.

In parts of Africa, for instance, the Batammaliba people of Togo and Benin saw the event not as a curse but as a chance for reconciliation. 

They believed the blood moon represented a cosmic struggle between the sun and the moon, a battle that required communities on Earth to cultivate peace and resolve conflicts in order to restore harmony. 

Some Christian groups, such as Seventh-day Adventists, also view the event as a divine sign. Quoting Acts 2:20 in the Bible—“the sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and notable day of the Lord come”—they interpret the eclipse as a reminder to remain spiritually prepared.

Other traditions, however, cast the blood moon in a more ominous light.

 Among the Bukusu of western Kenya, pregnant women were discouraged from going outdoors during the eclipse, amid fears that it could harm unborn children. 

The phenomenon was attributed to a mythical monster known as Kamkuywa, and rituals were often carried out to appease spirits and ancestors. 

Similarly, the Aztecs believed eclipses could result in deformities such as birthmarks, cleft lips, or other physical disfigurements in newborns.

Myths of cosmic struggle also emerged in Asia.

 In Hindu tradition, the blood moon is tied to the story of Rahu, a demon who was beheaded after stealing a sip of immortality. 

His disembodied head was said to chase the sun and the moon across the heavens, swallowing them in moments of vengeance during eclipses.

 In Chinese folklore, the moon’s disappearance was attributed to a celestial dragon devouring it. 

Unlike Western fears of dragons as destructive creatures, Chinese culture often viewed them as powerful and benevolent, making the eclipse a moment of mystery rather than dread

In India, the blood moon was surrounded by strict taboos. 

Families avoided cooking, eating, or drinking during the eclipse, fearing that food and water left uncovered would be poisoned by toxic cosmic energy. 

The phenomenon was also believed to herald calamities such as famine, war, or death.

Despite these myths, modern science confirms that the lunar eclipse is entirely harmless. 

Unlike solar eclipses, which require eye protection, watching a blood moon poses no danger. Instead, it remains one of the most breathtaking spectacles of the night sky, offering a chance for reflection not only on the wonders of the universe but also on the enduring ways in which human cultures have sought to explain the mysteries above.