The recent solar eclipse on August 12 reminded me of what superstitious people used to say about eclipses. A servant told me in 1950 that the moon and sun were being punished by God during eclipses for their sins, although he couldn't say what exactly were the sins the moon and sun could commit.
Then there were people who locked their pregnant women folk up under the impression that their pregnancies could be aborted or that they would be burnt or scarred beyond recognition. In fact, all girls and women were forbidden to go out of their houses during solar eclipses specially. Muslim preachers would advise their followers to recite certain verses to ward off any evil that could affect them.
In India, women were even told not to go into their kitchens during a solar eclipse, perhaps due to the fear of being injured while cutting onions or other vegetables. A relative of mine got the shock of his life when a Hindu trader in India refused to do business the whole day despite my relative having paid him a huge amount in advance. I wouldn't be surprised to hear that everyone in India stayed at home on the day of the recent solar eclipse.
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