The moon symbolizes cyclic renewal, rebirth, and immortality. In contrast to the sun, the masculine principle, the moon symbolizes the feminine. It represents the afterlife and protects lovers. In the mythology of other peoples the moon has other meanings: illusory nature, deception, connection with death, with the other world. In the ancient tradition, the goddesses Artemis, Selene and Hecate are associated with the moon. In ancient China, the full moon symbolizes home, the memory of loved ones and pure love.
In the Turkic world, the moon was considered the ruler and symbol of the night, and it was also the celestial sister of the sun. In ancient times, the Kazakhs revered the moon and paid respect to it. The new moon was blessed: “Ai kördim, aman kördim, eski ai esirke, zhaña ai zharylka” (“Saw the moon in health – sympathized with the old moon, felt comfortable in the new moon”). The full moon symbolized wealth and fertility.
The spots on the moon find their explanation in the myth of a former dispute between the sun and the moon about which of them is more beautiful and which of them should shine day or night. The respectful attitude towards the heavenly bodies, their sacralization and aestheticization have been preserved in the naming tradition of many Turkic peoples: Widely used are girls’ names in which the words with the meanings of the moon and the sun appear. For example, Tolğanai – full moon, Aisulu – moon beauty, Künsulu – sun beauty, Aigerim – moon face, Aigül – moon flower, Aizhan – beautiful like the moon, moonlike.
Among the Kazakhs it is forbidden to point the finger at the moon, and the daughter-in-law who has crossed the threshold of her husband’s house on the new moon is considered fertile (will have many children). There is a widespread saying that goes “Aiy tudi oñynan” – “the moon has risen on the right side”, which means that someone is very lucky in this case.
The damaged moon – the crescent moon of the Turks – symbolized decline, misfortune and death. That is why a crescent moon is often depicted on Kazakh mazars.(Although this sign is also identified with Muslim symbols)
