The night is soft
The UN marks International Moon Day on 20 July to commemorate the anniversary of the Apollo 11 lunar mission. International Moon Day celebrates the development of lunar exploration by countries around the world, whilst raising awareness around sustainable exploration practices. Sustainable space exploration has gained attention recently due to the increase in debris orbiting the earth as a result of satellite launches. Like sustainability aims on Earth, these initiatives aim to preserve the ecological balance of the moon for future generations. As our only natural satellite, the moon is significant in many cultures around the world. From its prominence in astrology and cultural mythology, to its practical uses in navigation and keeping time, it is imperative that we take care of this important celestial object.
The Moon (月) in Chinese Culture
In Chinese culture, the moon represents human emotion and is associated with desire. The Mid-Autumn Festival (the Moon Festival) takes place on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month. This is a time of reunion, prosperity and harmony, with the circular shape of the moon representing togetherness. Family members usually come together during this time and children and relatives who live away from home return. To celebrate the sighting of the moon, red plastic lanterns are lit, and, as the evening draws to a close, families go outside and watch the full moon together.
The Mid-Autumn Festival is also a time of romantic love. In Chinese mythology, it is said that marriages are made in heaven, but they are prepared on the moon by an old man named Yue Lao (月下老人). According to the tale, Yue Lao has a record of all the names of new born babies, and he is the only one who knows the future partners of these infants. Once a match is written in the book, it is irreversible. As a result, couples will often watch the moon together during the Mid-Autumn Festival. Even if lovers find themselves separated by distance, they can look at the moon and feel comfort and unity in the fact that they are looking at the same celestial being.
Travelling to the moon is an established and recurring motif in Chinese mythology. The legend of Chang E (嫦娥) dates back to 2170 BC, when she drank the elixir of life to save people from her husband’s tyrannical rule. Chang E began floating to the moon after drinking the elixir where she now lives alongside Wu Gang (吴刚) – the man in the moon – a woodcutter, and the jade moon rabbit (玉兔, 月兔). China named a lunar exploration project after the legend of Chang E, sewing a thread between lunar mythology and contemporary exploration. Chang’e 1, the first Chinese lunar orbiter, was launched in 2007, with subsequent missions taking place in 2012 and 2017.
The Moon (القمر) in the Islamic World
The crescent moon is a central image in Islam, adorning prayer rugs, architecture and flags. Lunar imagery was popularised in the 6th century, during the time of the Prophet Mohamed (pbuh). In this period, people relied on the position of the moon to help with navigation through the desert when travelling at night. It was common to travel after sunset as the heat of the desert made travel impossible during the day, and the moon would act as a guide to help with general bearings.
The lunar phases were also used as the foundations of the Hijri Calendar (التقويم الهجري, the Islamic calendar), which is still in use today. The Hijri Calendar is a purely lunar calendar which consists of twelve months, with 354 or 355 days each year. This calendar system started with the Islamic New Year (622 BCE on the Gregorian Calendar). The Islamic New Year marks the establishment of the first Islamic Community in Medina when the Prophet Mohamed (pbuh) and his followers travelled from Mecca. This calendar is used to mark important events in Islam, such as the Hajj pilgrimage or Ramadan. The anticipation of lunar sightings of the new moon bookend the Ramadan period, with the first sighting of the crescent moon marking the beginning of fasting, and the second sighting welcoming Eid celebrations.
The Moon in North, East and West African Culture
Evidence of cultural astronomy has been found in many archaeological discoveries on the African continent. The megaliths of Nabta Playa located in Egypt was used to mark the summer solstice and the incoming monsoon season. The structure is almost 2000 years older than Stonehenge and was constructed by nomadic people in the region. The structure aligns with the Belt of Orion and the stars Sirius and Arcturus.
Located in modern day Kenya, the dancing stones of Namoratunga date back to 300BC (namoratunga, people of the stone in Turkana). Thought to have originally been an observatory, the 19 pillars align with the 354-day lunar calendar. As contact with Muslim missionaries and merchants increased, Arabic astronomy and Islamic traditions became increasingly integrated with local customs – particularly in the Sahara and Sahel regions. As a result, the Islamic lunar calendar was incorporated into local agricultural cycles.
The moon has also had significant impact on language, as knowledge and cultural practices were passed onto future generations by oral tradition. Although in working culture time is described by the divisions of the clock and calendars, in the Republic of Benin, time is also articulated metaphorically through comparison with the moon. In Fongbe, the early evening may be described as ‘the night is soft’, or the late evening as ‘the night is dead’, depending on the presence of moonlight. This shows how the moon not only impacts wider cultural mythologies, but also the day- to- day lives of everyday people.
Observers and allies looking for more information, additional insights into International Moon Day and the significance of the moon in different cultures, we have collated some sources to help you find out more (below). Please feel free to share your observations, stories and anecdotes about the cultural influence of the moon with us too.
Words and images by Amrita Rahman
‘African Cultural Astronomy’, Christian Vannier, Anthropology News, July 2019, https://www.anthropology-news.org/articles/african-cultural-astronomy/
‘International Moon Day 20 July’, United Nations, https://www.un.org/en/observances/moon-day
‘Islamic Calendar’, Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamic_calendar
‘Nabata Playa Stone Circle’, Nubian Museum Aswan, Egypt, Atlas Obscura, https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/nabta-playa-stone-circle
‘Sustainable Exploration’, The European Space Agency, https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Human_and_Robotic_Exploration/Exploration/Sustainable_exploration
‘The Chinese and The Moon’, China Culture, July 2023, http://en.chinaculture.org/chineseway/2007-11/20/content_121946.htm
‘The Lady- Chang E’, China Culture, July 2023, http://en.chinaculture.org/chineseway/2007-11/20/content_121946.htm
‘The Origin of Islamic Symbols, The Star & the Moon’, Arab America, April 2023, https://www.arabamerica.com/the-origin-of-islamic-symbols-the-star-the-moon/
‘Why is the Moon so Important in Arab Culture?’ Arab America, November 2019, https://www.arabamerica.com/why-is-the-moon-so-important-in-arab-culture/