THE LEGEND OF THE RABBIT ON THE MOON

ACCORDING TO THE AZTECS

We have all gazed at the sky in awe, finding shapes in the clouds and felt blinded by the
power of the sun. At night, some of us may have immersed ourselves in the tranquility of
darkness, the brightness of the stars and the silent embrace of the moon.

Many of us know that the moon changes shape throughout its cycle, but have you ever
seen the little animal on it? The Aztecs said that this animal was a rabbit and they had a
story that explained how it got there.

Quetzalcoatl was curious about the land that later became Mexico. So, despite being a
god, he came into the world in the form of a man. Upon arrival, he was amazed at
everything he found. He walked for hours to discover the nature and beauty that
surrounded him.

By nightfall, he was already exhausted. As the moon and stars began to shine at his
height, Quetzalcoatl began to feel hungry. He started looking for something to eat; he
found nothing until he tripped over a rabbit eating grass.

Quetzalcoatl asked the rabbit what it was. In response, the rabbit humbly offered him
some grass. Quetzalcoatl replied that he could not eat it and that he might starve to
death. The rabbit offered itself as a sacrifice to satisfy the god's appetite and helped him
continue his journey. Thanks to this gesture, the rabbit escaped its final destination.

Grateful and honored by the bravery of the rabbit, Quetzalcoatl caressed it. Then he
raised the rabbit to heaven, stamping his silhouette on the moon forever, so that people
will remember the greatness of his heart. According to the Aztecs, this is why we see the
rabbit on the moon.

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Zenger News. https://www.zenger.news/2020/12/01/the-legend-of-the-rabbit-and-other-stories-about-the-moon/