Skip to content

Real astronomy and dated history, with sources. Documented traditions and folklore. Modern lunar astrology · symbolic, not predictive.

Folklore #188 Folklore & calendar

Two gods had to throw themselves into a fire to become the Sun. The rich one lost his nerve four times; the humble one went first. The hesitator came second and became the Moon.

Both rose equally bright, which the other gods thought was unfair, so one of them threw a rabbit into the second face to dim it. That is the Aztec explanation for both the Moon's faintness and the rabbit in it — one story doing two jobs, which is usually the sign of a well-worn myth.

Tradition: Aztec; the Legend of the Fifth Sun, Florentine Codex · checked Sep 2026

🔭 Meanwhile, in astronomy: The Moon is as dark as worn asphalt

Tonight's phase needs JavaScript. The phase, the rise and set times and the calendar are all worked out on your device. There is no server doing it for you, which is also why the site has no account. The facts themselves are plain pages and read fine without it — start at Explore.

Two gods had to throw themselves into a fire to become the Sun. The rich one lost his nerve four times; the humble one went first. The hesitator came second and became the Moon.

Settings

Gear that makes it better

Where these numbers come from

Two gods had to throw themselves into a fire to become the Sun. The rich one lost his nerve four times; the humble one went first. The hesitator came second and became the Moon.

More on folklore & calendar