Solar eclipse myths: Omens, romance, debunking theories about pregnant women, unborn babies

A rare celestial event such as the Great American Eclipse happens in, well, once in a blue moon.

Also known as the "ring of fire" annular solar eclipse, people in the U.S. and beyond are making plans to (safely) view it Saturday, Oct. 14.

Weather permitting, people in Florida can see the partial solar eclipse. The Sunshine State is not in the path of annularity, meaning Floridians will see a phase of the eclipse but not the brilliant “ring of fire” effect. Even so, eclipses have that pizzazz that make viewers stop and (safely) stare.

With events such as these, there’s bound to be talk of folklore and myths. Below is a roundup of myths about solar eclipses.

Celestial event: A guide to watch the annular eclipse in Florida at planetariums, observatories

MYTH: If you are pregnant, you shouldn't watch an eclipse because it can harm your baby

According to NASA, an age-old myth warns women who are pregnant should not watch an eclipse because it can harm their baby. It stems from the false idea that harmful radiations are emitted during a total solar eclipse.

A post on timeanddate.com concurs: “A popular misconception is that solar eclipses can be a danger to pregnant women and their unborn children. In many cultures, young children and pregnant women are asked to stay indoors during a solar eclipse,” the site states.

MYTH: Eclipses are omens and predict something very bad is about to happen

According to NASA, “An annular solar eclipse happens when the moon passes between the sun and Earth while it is at its farthest point from Earth. Because the moon is farther away from earth, it appears smaller than the sun and does not completely cover the star."

While a beautiful, natural phenomenon, for some solar eclipses evoke fear. Many people see eclipses as omens that can predict something bad can happen — death, destruction and disasters.

From NASA: "A classic case of what psychologists call Confirmation Bias is that we tend to remember all the occasions when two things happened together, but forget all of the other times when they did not. This gives us a biased view of causes and effects that we remember easily, because the human brain is predisposed to looking for, and remembering, patterns that can be used as survival rules-of-thumb. Total solar eclipses are not often recorded in the historical record, but they do tend to be recorded when they coincide with other historical events.”

October eclipse schedule: Best time to see it in Florida, weather permitting

MYTH: Solar eclipses foretell major life changes and events about to happen

It’s no secret that celestial events are tied to astrology and predictions of the future. Phrases like “when the stars align” or “once in a blue moon” stem from celestial events. Solar eclipses fall into that category.

Solar eclipses don’t actually have a foreshadowing ability, but it is common in astrological forecasts, which are “based on coincidences and non-scientific beliefs in how celestial events control human behavior,” NASA states.

Confirmation bias is present here, too, according to the NASA post about solar eclipses and myths: “A common qualification is that if the eclipse doesn’t foretell a change in your life it may foretell a change in that of your friends. This is a logically flawed used of confirmation bias in which you prove a cause-and-effect relationship by ignoring failures and only consider successful forecasts. There is nothing other than human psychology that connects eclipses with future events in your life," NASA states.

MYTH: The moon turns black during a total solar eclipse

The moon turning black during a total solar eclipse is actually a trick of the eyes — sort of.

According to NASA: "As viewed from the moon, Earth is very bright in the sky and its weak light is enough to turn the lunar surface a pale milky white. This is called earthshine, and the same thing applies during a total solar eclipse. Most of Earth’s surface is actually in broad daylight off the path of totality, and from the moon it would be in full phase, shining down on the lunar surface at its brightest. So, during a total solar eclipse, the lunar surface will be dimly seen due to earthshine, surrounded by the much more brilliant corona of the sun.”

MYTH: Solar eclipse means a mythical figure will eat or steal the sun

According to timeanddate.com, ancient civilizations tried to explain why the sun temporarily vanished from the sky (aka a solar eclipse) and cooked up a theory: They blamed it on the gods.

“In many cultures, the legends surrounding solar eclipses involve mythical figures eating or stealing the sun. Others interpreted the event as a sign of angry or quarreling gods,” a post on timeanddate.com states.

A solar eclipse was a sign of angry gods, disasters and destruction soon followed.

MYTH: An eclipse generates fear ... of the sun

According to Almanac.com, a solar eclipse would cause people to fear the sun: “Myths often involved a beast trying to destroy the sun with the fate of Earth hanging in the balance — or, a sun god becoming angry, sad or sick,” the site states.

While an eclipse would evoke fear of the sun, in some cultures, it was a good motivator to get things done. “Native people in Colombia shouted to the heavens, promising to work hard and mend their ways. Some worked their gardens and other projects especially hard during the eclipse to prove it,” Almanac.com states.

MYTH: A solar eclipse is a romance between the sun and the moon

Ever heard of the phrase, “when the moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie, that’s amore!” This celestial phrase-slash-Dean Martin song talks about falling in love. It’s common to associate the sun, moon and stars with romance.

A post on Almanac.com tackles solar eclipses and the relationship between the sun and the moon: “Some cultures thought that the sun was in a fight with its lover, the moon.”

However, the post states, “in German mythology, the hot female sun and cold male moon were married. The sun ruled the day, and the sleepy moon ruled the night. Seeking companionship, the moon was drawn to his bride and they came together — thus, a solar eclipse.”

The site offered this fun take, too: “West Africans of Benin switch the gender roles of the sun and moon and suggest that the orbs are very busy, but when they do get together, they turn off the light for privacy.”

Not a myth about solar eclipses, but a bright side

Like the Great American Solar Eclipse in 2017, this celestial event is sure to bring people together. On Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023, millions across the U.S. will have safety eclipse glasses, slotted spoons or Ritz crackers in hand to watch the solar eclipse.

A solar eclipse post on timeanddate.com mentions a positive effect from: “Not all superstitions surrounding solar eclipses are about doom. In Italy, for example, it is believed that flowers planted during a solar eclipse are brighter and more colorful than flowers planted any other time of the year.”

This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Great American Eclipse, ring of fire celestial event comes with myths