Berezkin Analytical Catalogue · Motif

A31 — The Moon in Love.

187 Myths, legends and folktales

187 Unique narratives for motif A31

106 Cultures & traditions where A31 is told

1 Sub-motifs of motif A31

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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

Overview

As a result of intimate contact or romantic conflict, the night light takes on its current appearance – rising from the earth to the sky and/or spots appearing on it, which are now visible.

Berezkin category: The Sun and Moon

This is of motif type Cosmology and etiology and is part of group 2, Moon spots, stars, constellations.

A31 has 1 other sub-motifs

A31. As a result of intimate contact or romantic conflict, the night light takes on its current appearance – rising from the earth to the sky and/or spots appearing on it, which are now visible.
A31a. Upon learning that her husband or lover has committed an act incompatible with accepted norms, a woman cuts off her breast and shows it to him.

🌐 See a combined distribution map for all of A31’s motifs

Top 10 motifs with similar dispersal patterns

Phylogeny

Motif	Similarity	Motif summary
L22	95.31%	Having broken some taboo, seen an unusual object or a strange character, people fall into a deep sleep; at night, while asleep, they are killed or maimed.
F9D	95.04%	Small stinging creatures dangerous to the partner are found in the genitals of women or men.
L22A	93.72%	Having broken some taboo, seen an unusual object or strange character, people fall into a deep sleep and wake up in the morning blind. See motif L22. Among the Watut, Khmou and Trumai, a spirit eats out a person's eyes and they die immediately without waking up).
L24	93.66%	Demons (or one of them) attack people and then hide. People destroy the demons' lair and kill all or most of them by spreading a smoky fire around the demons' refuge.
F9E1	92.58%	A woman's womb is dangerous because it contains a toothy or stinging animal (not just its mouth) or many such creatures.
L7	91.99%	While chasing a person, spirit, monster or beast, mistakenly chases after a large two-legged object passing by, usually an animal.
H30	91.92%	When meeting two women (together or one after the other), the hero must or may choose one. Usually, he chooses either the less beautiful or the dangerous one, bringing trouble or misfortune upon himself or upon people in general.
F18B	91.78%	After intercourse with a forbidden partner (incest, intercourse with an animal or spirit), a man's penis becomes so long that he is forced to carry it in a basket, etc.
K13A	91.64%	The character's leg (rarely: both legs) is cut off, bitten off, torn off, or damaged. The character ascends to the sky: to the moon; becomes the moon; turns into a star or constellation; becomes the sun; blood flowing from the leg colours the sky.
B42D	91.26%	In the cosmic hunting plot, the object of pursuit is a bear. See motif B42.

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Map of motif dispersal

Distribution

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Traditions

106 recorded

This motif has been recorded in 106 traditions: Luchasi (Ngangela), Chokwe (Konwe); Mbukushu, Torricelli family: Valman, Samap, Arapesh (Upper, Coastal), Monumbo, Lilau, Ngaimbom; Moando (Banara); Menya, Olo, Melanesians of southeastern New Guinea: Mekeo, Motu, Sinagoro, Koita (Koitapu), Mukawa (Are), Wagawaga, Taupota, Awaiama, Gelaria, Goodenough Bay, Bartle Bay, Wedau (Wamira village), Melanesians of Admiralty Islands (incl Manus); Seimat (Western Islands), Tjam, Ede, Jörai (Jarai), Khasi, Garo (Atchik), Kachari (Bodo, incl. Lalung), Dimasa, Tripuri, Riang (of Tripura), Khami, Riga, Mori, Oraon (Kurukh), Indian literary tradition (Vedic, Brahman, Purana, Indian Buddhism, Hinduism, Ramayana, Mahabharata, Panchtantra, Jatakas); iconography of Hindu temples, Punjabi, Seraiki (Multani), Konkani (incl Goa), Balahi; Lambadi (Banjaaa), Catalan, Bulgarians, Balkarians, Macedonians, Balkarians, Romanians, Moldavians, Aromanians, Moldovans, Rushani, Shughni, Khufi, Bartangi, Ingush, Lezgians, Archin, Kürin; Khinalug, Rutul, Tsakhur, Dargin (Dargwa), incl. Müregin, Khürkilin, Kubachi, Laks, Avar, Andi, Akhvakh, Kumyk, Terekemen, Mingrelians (Megrelians), Laz, Armenians, Talysh, Central Yupik, Nunivak Island, Inland Tlingit, Denaina, Ingalik (Der Hit’an), Koyukon, North Alaskan Inupiat, Mackenzie Delta, Netsilik, Caribou, Iglulik, Polar Inuit, West Greenland, East Greenland (Angmassalik, Kulusuk), Labrador Inuit (Koksoagmiut), Tlingit, Cheyenne, Caddo, Yana, Tewa (San Juan, Santa Clara, San Ildefonso, Tesuque, Nambe; Hano), Tiwa (Taos, Picuris; Sandia, Isleta), Towa (Jemez), Tepehua, Totonac, Bribri, Cabecar, Terraba; Chiriqui (AD 800-1500) iconography, Cuna; XVI century data on Eastern Panama, Kogi (Cagaba), Sanha, Creols of Aritama Valley, Yupa (Yukpa), Yaruro, Makiritare (Yecuana), Yabarana, Panare (Eñape), Warao, Waiwai, Trio, Kaxuyana (Warikyana, Arikena), Hixkariyana, Pemon: Arekuna (incl. Kamarakoto), Taulipang (Taurepan), Locono, Guiana Kariña, Kaliña, Galibi, Wayapi, Emerillon, Siona, Secoya, Coreguaje, Napo (Quijo), Kanelo (“Jungle Kechua”), Waorani, Zaparo, Shuar, Achuar (Shiwiar), Aguaruna, Huambiza, Chayahuita , Barasana, Taibano, Macuna, Desana, Siriano; Tatuyo, Bara, Tuyuca, Letuama, Tanimuca, Ufaina, Yahuna, Kabiyari, Yukuna (Yucuna), Andoque, Witoto, Ocaina, Bora, Yagua, Ticuna (Tucuna), Xipaya, Urubu (Urubu-Kaapor), Ashaninca (Campa), Machiguenga, Piro (Yine), Culina, Paumarí, Arauá, Apurina, Cuniba, Kanamari, Shipibo, Conibo, Setebo, Amahuaca, Cashinahua, Sharanahua, Yaminahua, Yawanahua, Capanahua), Harákmbet (=Mashco), Tacana, Bolivian Guarani: Chiriguano (including assimilated Chane Arawaks), Pauserna (=Guarasu), Guarayu, Tapiete, Tupari, Makurap, Sakirap, Ajuru (Wayoro), Suruí, Gaviâo, Zoro, Arua, Cinta Larga, Mehinaku, Waura, Yaulapiti, Rikbaktsa, Iranxe, Nambikwara, Paresi, Umotina (Umutina), Caraja, Tapirape, Botocudo, Guarani of Paraguay and Brazil: Caygua, Mbia, Apapocuva, Nyandewa, Chiripa, Manao, Katawishi (Teffe lake); groups of uncertain affiliation mostly from Rio Jamunda

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