DN127

Traditionally and even in recent times children were prevented from looking at the full moon. It is believed that the Mari or bad spirits that are present around the moon at this time could injure the eyes of the small children. The damage, which would be caused by the moon’s rays, would not be apparent immediately but could manifest itself later in life. The artist recalls when he was a very young boy always being accompanied by an adult who had placed a covering over his head and eyes when out of doors during times of the full moon. The figures depicted in the print represent the children shielding their eyes from the moon’s rays.