Be thankful you live in modern times. The solar eclipse carried ominous
overtones in ancient cultures – omens of death and destruction.

Chinese legend has it that failing to predict a solar eclipse put the emperor in
danger. Thus, in 2134 BC, astrologers Hsi and Ho were put to death for such
oversight.

In Vietnam, it was once true that a solar eclipse was due to a giant frog
devouring the sun.

The Norse accused wolves of eating the sun.

In China, a dragon dined on the sun.

Hindu mythology has it that Rahu was beheaded by the gods for drinking the
gods’ nectar. His head flew off and eclipsed the sun.

Koreans believed dogs stole the sun.

The Pomo Indians of the Pacific Northwest believed a bear got in a fight with
the sun and took a bite out of it. The Pomo name for a solar eclipse is “Sun
got bit by a bear.”

In some parts of the world, eclipses are still seen as evil omens. Some
cultures have pregnant women and young children to stay indoors, believing
them to be in danger during a solar eclipse. In India, today, some people fast
during an eclipse as they believe food cooked at that time will be poisonous.

But then the Italians come to the solar eclipse rescue. They believe that
flowers planted during an eclipse grow brighter and more colorful than those
planted at any other time.

Fortunately for those who lived in fear during ancient times, most calendar
years have but two solar eclipses. The most that can occur in the same year is
five. According to NASA, only about 25 years in the past 5,000 have had five
solar eclipses. The last time was in 1935. The next time will be in 2206.

Babylonians and Chinese were able to predict solar eclipses as early as 2500
BC. Thus, the very fact that we know one is on the way to the Mountain
community is no great feat.

And just to be completely safe, if you live anywhere near water, keep an eye
on the frogs.