On Monday, April 8th, 2024, a total solar eclipse will cross North America, passing over Mexico, the US, and Canada. This occurs when the moon passes in front of the sun and completely blocks its face. This year, Indiana is in the line of totality, meaning the sky will darken momentarily. As preparations are made for this event, let’s explore how other cultures view solar eclipses.

The path of the upcoming eclipse will transcend borders, passing through Mexico before entering the United States via Texas. It will then travel through Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine. The eclipse will continue its journey into Canada, passing through Southern Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Nova Scotia. Solar eclipses have fascinated people and cultures around the world for centuries.

China

Chinese eclipse records are some of the oldest in the world. Ancient China held that a solar eclipse occurred when a celestial dragon attacked and devoured the sun.

Native American

According to Choctaw legend, a mischievous black squirrel would gnaw on the Sun and cause the eclipse.

Maya

The eclipse is called “Chi’bal K’iin, ” meaning “when the Sun is eaten.” Mayans believed the Moon is angry and symbolically bites the sun during an eclipse.

West African– The Batammaliba are an ancient northern Togo and Benin people. They believed that human anger and fighting spread to the Sun and the Moon, who began to fight with each other and caused an eclipse. During the eclipse, the Batammaliba people made amends for old feuds and peacefully came together to encourage peace.

Indiana

Indiana is fortunate enough to experience a total solar eclipse, providing an incredible sight for all residents. This will have a significant impact on the state. Elaine Bedel, the Secretary & CEO, and Justus O’Neil, Public Relations Officer from Indiana Destination Development Corporation, shared their insights on the influence of the solar eclipse:

“We are anticipating a significant increase in visitors to Indiana during the solar eclipse. We are estimating 500,000 visitors for what could be the largest natural tourism event in Indiana’s History. There has been a tremendous amount of engagement with the solar eclipse across the entire state with hundreds of events scheduled for the days leading up to and on April 8th. From watch parties to weeklong festivals, Indiana is ready to welcome our visitors and celebrate together.”

The Indiana Destination Development Corporation has shared some exciting activity highlights for the upcoming solar eclipse. In the heart of Indiana, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS) has been designated as an official broadcast site for the eclipse by NASA, making it a national as well as a global draw for visitors. Richmond Indiana, which is the eastern gateway for the eclipse in the state, is hosting a four-day Eclipse and More 2024 Celebration. The event will feature zip lining, dancing LED robots, live music, and fireworks. Lastly, at Bloomington, Indiana University is organizing a Hoosier Cosmic Celebration at Memorial Stadium.

Please check out their website for a complete list of how all corners of the state are celebrating this major event.

By Samantha Gutierrez, Development & Engagement Manager

Sources

https://www.britannica.com/list/the-sun-was-eaten-6-ways-cultures-have-explained-eclipses

https://www.inthepathoftotality.org/

https://eclipse2017.nasa.gov/eclipse-history#:~:text=The%20ancient%20Chinese%20believed%20that,also%20means%20%22to%20eat%22.

https://www.visitindiana.com/eclipse2024/#:~:text=On%20April%208%2C%202024%2C%20Indiana,to%20witness%20this%20incredible%20event.

https://www.heritagebelize.org/blog/solar-eclipse-maya-beliefs-and-rituals#:~:text=In%20the%20Yucatec%20Mayan%20Language,%2C%20%E2%80%9Cbites%20the%20Sun%E2%80%9D.

https://science.nasa.gov/eclipses/future-eclipses/eclipse-2024/