In the beginning of time, the world lay in endless twilight. The sky was heavy with shadows, and the earth was cold. Mountains slept beneath a dim glow, and rivers crept quietly through the land without sparkle or warmth. No birds sang, and no plants lifted their heads to the pale sky. The people of the Dreamtime lived in gloom, lighting small fires to keep away the chill and to guide them through the half-dark world.
Among the ancient spirits who walked the land was a woman of immense wisdom and power. Her name has been spoken in many forms by the people, but all know her as the Mother of Fire, the one who held the secret of warmth and light. Her fire burned deep within the earth, hidden from the sight of humankind.
She watched the people shiver in the cold twilight. Their fires flickered briefly and died, and their children grew weak. The Mother of Fire pitied them, for the world had not yet found its balance. She knew that life could not flourish without light.
One day she gathered the embers from her sacred flame and placed them carefully into a large bark bowl. The bowl shone like the heart of a volcano, glowing red and gold. She wrapped it with vines and leaves to shield its heat. As she lifted it, sparks escaped and flew upward, painting brief lights in the sky.
The woman climbed to the highest mountain where the earth touched the heavens. From that height she looked down at the shadowed world and felt the sorrow of the sleeping land. The wind whispered through her hair, and the voice of the spirits spoke within her heart.
“Give your fire to the sky,” they said. “Let your gift awaken the world.”
The Mother of Fire lifted the glowing bowl and cast it high into the air. The sparks exploded outward, and the great fireball rose until it hung above the earth. For the first time, the world was filled with light.
The darkness fled, and the people shielded their eyes from the brilliance. The rivers flashed like silver, and the trees came alive in green fire. The animals, long hidden, came out of their dens, blinking at the brightness. The first dawn had come.
The Mother of Fire watched with joy as warmth spread across the land. The sleeping seeds awoke, the birds sang, and the air shimmered with life. Yet as the day grew older, she saw the flames sinking slowly toward the western edge of the world. The great fireball fell into the sea, and once again night returned.
The people cried out in fear. “The light is gone! The warmth has died!” they said.
But the woman smiled gently. “Do not fear,” she told them. “What falls will rise again.”
She called upon the spirits of wind and water to guard the fire and carry it safely beneath the world during the night. When dawn returned, the fireball rose once more in the east, lighting the sky with gold. From that time, the sun has followed this path rising, setting, and rising again to bring the endless cycle of day and night.
The people rejoiced. They honored the Mother of Fire with songs and painted her story upon the rocks. They danced in circles to greet the dawn, and their children learned to thank the sun for each new day.
It is said that her spirit still lives within the heart of the sun, watching over all living things. The warmth that feeds the plants, the light that guides travelers, and the glow that ends each night are all gifts of her first act of love.
In the desert lands of Australia, elders tell this story when the first rays of light touch the red sands. The rising sun is a reminder that life always returns, even after darkness. It is the promise of renewal and the power of hope.
Moral Lesson
The story of how the sun was made teaches that generosity and courage can transform the world. The Mother of Fire shared her sacred flame so that all life could flourish. Her gift reminds us that creation begins with compassion and that every new dawn is a renewal of life and love.
Knowledge Check
1. What was the world like before the sun was created?
The world was dark, cold, and silent, with no warmth or light for people or creatures.
2. Who brought fire and light into the world?
A powerful woman known as the Mother of Fire brought light to the world.
3. What did the Mother of Fire do with her sacred flame?
She placed her fire in a bark bowl and cast it into the sky, creating the first sun.
4. Why did the sun set after the first day?
Because it followed the natural path of the world, falling beyond the horizon to rest before rising again.
5. How did the people respond when darkness returned?
They were afraid, thinking the light was lost forever, until the Mother of Fire promised it would return.
6. What does the rising of the sun symbolize in this story?
It symbolizes renewal, hope, and the ongoing cycle of life.
Source: Adapted from “How the Sun Was Made” in Aboriginal Myths: Tales of the Dreamtime by A. W. Reed (1978), Terrey Hills, N.S.W.: Reed.
Cultural Origin: Australian Aboriginal (Dreamtime, central desert regions)
