Berezkin Analytical Catalogue · Motif
I73 — Stars – sparks.
Source data for narratives and traditions is drawn from Berezkin’s Analytical Catalogue. If you use this data, please acknowledge and link to it: Ю.Е. Березкин, Е.Н. Дувакин. Тематическая классификация и распределение фольклорно-мифологических мотивов по ареалам. Аналитический каталог.
Summary of motif
OverviewStars (rarely suns and moons) – sparks, hot coals.
Berezkin category: Supernatural objects, objects and creatures
This is of motif type Cosmology and etiology and is part of group 2, Moon spots, stars, constellations.
Top 10 motifs with similar dispersal patterns
| Motif | Similarity | Motif summary |
|---|---|---|
| L1C2 | 92.72% | Fleeing from a demonic creature, the characters hide their children (younger brother or sister) in a camouflaged pit, usually under the hearth. See motif L1C. |
| H34E | 92.52% | The snow was edible. |
| A37 | 92.17% | The character deliberately and by resorting to special means (usually shooting with a bow) strikes the sun or several suns or attempts to do so. |
| F77A | 91.82% | A huge penis serves as a bridge. |
| B6 | 91.75% | The first or only remaining man and woman move towards each other, going around a mountain, a pole or otherwise following a circle from opposite sides, and when they meet, they get married. |
| B46D | 91.28% | Men, each of whom excels others in a particular art, turn into stars. |
| A12B | 90.66% | During an eclipse or at sunset (marked *), the luminaries are swallowed by a toad or frog. |
| A4B | 90.56% | The sun decided to walk across the sky during the day because it is afraid of the night. |
| I11 | 89.57% | The turtle (toad, frog) serves as a support (embodiment) of the earth (sky), or the supports of the sky are made from its body. |
| A2A | 89.23% | The world was or will be (almost) burned when several suns lit up or will light up simultaneously; or destructive heat (or light) once emanated from one sun. |
See the 100 most similar distributions →
Map of motif dispersal
DistributionDrag the map to pan, use the scroll wheel to zoom — choose a texture or projection below
Cite this map
Distribution of the traditions attesting motif I73, ‘Stars – sparks.’, as recorded in the Berezkin–Duvakin Analytical Catalogue of Folklore Motifs (17 traditions mapped). Geolocation and cartography by Jonathan Fielder-White, Folklore Database, release 1.26206.1 (25 July 2026), https://www.folkloredatabase.com/motif/I73 (accessed 20 September 2026). Basemap © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Traditions
17 recordedThis motif has been recorded in 17 traditions: Kikuyu, Chuka, Embu, Emberre, Mwimbe, Bhuiya (now Aryans, originally Munda; Rahman 1955: 203), Baiga, Bhaina, Bhumia (subgroup of Baiga, incl Bharia, formerly Munda, now speak Indo-Aryan languages of neighboring groups), Juang, Sora (Savara, Saora), Parenga, Konds (Khonds; language is Kui, incl Kuttia, Konda-Dora), Koya; Pengo, Miao (Hmong) and Yao of Southern China, Scandinavians: early written sources ("Edda"; Saxo Grammaticus etc.); Gothland picture stones; Ancient Germans (Late Bronze Age in Scandinavia), Karachays, Balkar, Ingush, Labrador Inuit (Koksoagmiut), Tsimshian, Bella Coola (Nuxalk), Pomo, Chumash, Paya (Pech), Sumu, Misquito, Mende, Loma, Gbunde (Gbandi, Bandi), China
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How to cite: Fielder-White, Jonathan (2026). The Folklore Database. https://folkloredatabase.com
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