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Why the Sun and Moon Take Turns: A Traditional Lithuanian Sky Story · Faithfully Explore!

• 0:00
  Laura: Explorers, have you ever watched the sun disappear at the end of the day?
• 0:05
  Laura: The sky turns gold, then pink, then deep blue.
• 0:12
  Laura: One by one, the stars appear, and before long, the moon rises to take the sun's place.
• 0:20
  Laura: It's almost as if the sun and moon have made a plan.
• 0:25
  Laura: You watch the world now.
• 0:27
  Laura: All right, I'll take the next turn.
• 0:30
  Laura: But who decided whose turn it would be?
• 0:34
  Laura: Hi, explorers.
• 0:35
  Laura: I'm Laura, and this is Faithfully Explore, the show where we discover stories, cultures, beliefs, and big ideas from around the world.
• 0:45
  Faithfully Explore! Intro: Faithfully Explore!
• 0:46
  Faithfully Explore! Intro: is the name.
• 0:49
  Faithfully Explore! Intro: Learning together is our aim.
• 0:53
  Faithfully Explore! Intro: Beliefs around the globe we'll track, filling up our Belief Backpack.
• 1:01
  Laura: Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe where forests cover the land, rivers wind through green fields, and winter nights can stretch long and dark.
• 1:13
  Laura: In Lithuanian tradition, The sun is called Saule and the moon is called Mėnulis, and the Earth is called Žemė.
• 1:23
  Laura: In one old Lithuanian story, Saule and Mėnulis were not simply lights in the sky, they were a family.
• 1:34
  Laura: Long ago, before the sun ruled the day and the moon guarded the night, Saule and Mėnulis traveled through the sky together.
• 1:45
  Laura: Saule glowed with golden warmth.
• 1:47
  Laura: When she smiled, frost melted from the grass.
• 1:52
  Laura: Flowers lifted their faces, birds fluttered from their nests and filled the trees with song.
• 1:59
  Laura: Mėnulis shone with a cooler, quieter light.
• 2:04
  Laura: When he appeared, silver stretched across the rivers.
• 2:08
  Laura: Foxes stepped softly between the trees.
• 2:12
  Laura: Owls opened their wide eyes, and tired creatures settled into their dens.
• 2:19
  Laura: Saule and Menulis had a daughter whom they both loved dearly.
• 2:25
  Laura: Her name was Zeme, the Earth.
• 2:29
  Laura: Zeme was covered in deep forests, clear lakes, sandy shores, and wide meadows filled with wildflowers.
• 2:38
  Laura: Tiny seedlings pushed through her soil.
• 2:42
  Laura: Animals ran across her fields.
• 2:45
  Laura: People built homes, gathered food, sang songs, and looked toward the sky.
• 2:52
  Laura: Saule loved to watch over Zeme.
• 2:54
  Laura: She warmed the fields so grain could grow.
• 2:58
  Laura: She sparkled on the lakes.
• 3:00
  Laura: She painted bright colors onto flowers, berries, and the wings of butterflies.
• 3:06
  Saule: Look at her.
• 3:07
  Laura: Saule said proudly.
• 3:08
  Saule: She needs my warmth and light.
• 3:10
  Saule: I must stay near her always.
• 3:12
  Laura: But Menulis loved Zeme just as much.
• 3:15
  Laura: He lit the paths of travelers after sunset.
• 3:19
  Laura: He shone above quiet villages.
• 3:22
  Laura: He watched over sleeping children and accompanied people who still had work to do after darkness fell.
• 3:30
  Menulis: Zeme needs me too.
• 3:32
  Laura: Menulis replied.
• 3:34
  Menulis: The world does not stop needing care simply because the day is over.
• 3:38
  Laura: At first, Saule and Menulis tried to watch over Zeme together, but there was a problem.
• 3:47
  Laura: Saule wanted the sky bright and warm.
• 3:50
  Saule: Wake up,
• 3:50
  Laura: She called to the forest.
• 3:52
  Saule: Stretch your branches, open your flowers.
• 3:55
  Saule: There is work to be done
• 3:56
  Laura: Menulis wanted the sky calm and dim.
• 4:01
  Menulis: Rest, be still.
• 4:02
  Laura: He whispered.
• 4:03
  Menulis: Save your strength for tomorrow
• 4:06
  Saule: Zeme needs light
• 4:07
  Laura: Saule insisted.
• 4:09
  Menulis: She also needs darkness
• 4:11
  Laura: Menulis answered.
• 4:13
  Saule: She needs warmth
• 4:15
  Menulis: She needs rest!
• 4:16
  Laura: Soon, they were no longer listening to one another.
• 4:21
  Laura: They were so busy explaining why their own kind of care mattered that neither stopped to notice something important.
• 4:30
  Laura: They were both right.
• 4:32
  Laura: Below them, Zeme became confused.
• 4:36
  Laura: Some flowers opened, then quickly closed.
• 4:40
  Laura: The rooster could not decide whether to crow.
• 4:44
  Laura: The owls blinked at the bright sky.
• 4:47
  Laura: Is it morning?"
• 4:48
  Laura: one owl asked.
• 4:50
  Laura: "I thought it was bedtime," said another.
• 4:54
  Laura: People stepped outside their homes and stared upward.
• 4:58
  Laura: Saule blazed on one side of the sky.
• 5:01
  Laura: Mėnulis gleamed on the other.
• 5:04
  Laura: Neither one would leave.
• 5:06
  Saule: This cannot continue
• 5:07
  Laura: Said Saule.
• 5:09
  Menulis: I agree
• 5:10
  Laura: Said Mėnulis
• 5:12
  Saule: Then I will watch over Zeme.
• 5:14
  Menulis: No, I will
• 5:16
  Laura: Their argument rolled across the heavens.
• 5:19
  Laura: Louder and louder it grew until...
• 5:25
  Laura: The clouds shook.
• 5:27
  Laura: The forests trembled.
• 5:30
  Laura: Even Saule and Mėnulis fell silent Across the sky came Perkūnas, the powerful thunderer.
• 5:40
  Laura: Perkūnas was known for the thunder that boomed through the clouds and the lightning that flashed across the sky.
• 5:49
  Laura: But this time, he had not come to throw lightning.
• 5:53
  Laura: He had come to settle a quarrel.
• 5:55
  Perkūnas: I could hear you from beyond the farthest cloud
• 5:59
  Laura: Perkūnas said.
• 6:00
  Perkūnas: Why are you disturbing the heavens?
• 6:02
  Laura: Saule spoke first.
• 6:05
  Saule: I am Zeme's mother.
• 6:06
  Saule: My light warms her fields and helps her plants grow.
• 6:09
  Saule: I should be the one to watch over her
• 6:11
  Laura: Then Menulis answered.
• 6:13
  Menulis: And I am Zeme's father.
• 6:15
  Menulis: My light guides her through the darkness.
• 6:17
  Menulis: I should watch over her
• 6:18
  Laura: Perkūnas folded his arms.
• 6:20
  Perkūnas: Does Zeme need warmth?
• 6:22
  Laura: He asked.
• 6:23
  Saule: Yes
• 6:24
  Laura: Said Saule.
• 6:25
  Perkūnas: Does she need light for growing?
• 6:27
  Saule: Yes
• 6:27
  Laura: Perkūnas turned towards Menulis.
• 6:30
  Perkūnas: Does Zeme also need quiet?
• 6:33
  Menulis: Yes
• 6:33
  Laura: Said Menulis.
• 6:35
  Perkūnas: Does she need time to rest?
• 6:37
  Menulis: Yes
• 6:37
  Laura: Perkūnas looked down at the earth.
• 6:40
  Laura: He saw bright fields and shadowy forests.
• 6:43
  Laura: He saw people working and people sleeping.
• 6:47
  Laura: He saw flowers that opened in the sunshine and creatures that woke beneath the stars.
• 6:53
  Laura: At last, the thunderer spoke.
• 6:56
  Perkūnas: Saule, your warmth and brightness will watch over Zeme during the day
• 7:01
  Laura: Saule's golden light flickered thoughtfully.
• 7:05
  Perkūnas: And Menulis, you will watch over her during the night, accompanied by the stars.
• 7:10
  Laura: Menulis' silver face grew still.
• 7:13
  Perkūnas: You will not care for Zeme in exactly the same way
• 7:16
  Laura: Perkunas continued.
• 7:18
  Perkūnas: You will care for her in the way each of you does best.
• 7:22
  Laura: Saule looked down at the green fields she warmed.
• 7:26
  Laura: Mėnulis looked toward the quiet paths he lit.
• 7:30
  Laura: For the first time since their quarrel began, they were not thinking about whose care was more important.
• 7:37
  Laura: They were thinking about what Žemė needed.
• 7:40
  Laura: Saule turned to Mėnulis.
• 7:42
  Saule: I can warm the soil and wake the flowers
• 7:45
  Laura: She said.
• 7:46
  Menulis: And I can guard the darkness while the world rests
• 7:50
  Laura: Mėnulis replied.
• 7:51
  Laura: Saule nodded.
• 7:53
  Saule: Then we will take turns
• 7:55
  Menulis: We will take turns
• 7:56
  Laura: Mėnulis agreed.
• 7:59
  Laura: The next morning, Saule rose alone.
• 8:02
  Laura: Her golden light spilled across Žemė.
• 8:05
  Laura: Birds sang.
• 8:07
  Laura: People opened their doors.
• 8:09
  Laura: The forests stretched toward the warmth.
• 8:13
  Laura: All day, Saule watched over the earth.
• 8:16
  Laura: Then, as evening approached, she lowered herself toward the horizon.
• 8:21
  Laura: The clouds turned orange, pink, and purple.
• 8:25
  Laura: Before she disappeared, Saule whispered.
• 8:28
  Saule: Menulis, it is your turn
• 8:30
  Laura: The sky darkened.
• 8:32
  Laura: The first stars twinkled.
• 8:35
  Laura: Then Mėnulis rose, spreading his silver light over the lakes, forests, fields, and sleeping villages.
• 8:43
  Menulis: I am here.
• 8:44
  Laura: He whispered to Žemė.
• 8:46
  Menulis: Rest now.
• 8:47
  Menulis: I will watch over you
• 8:49
  Laura: All night, Mėnulis kept his quiet guard, and when the eastern sky began to glow, he knew that his turn was ending.
• 8:58
  Menulis: Saule
• 8:59
  Laura: He called.
• 9:01
  Menulis: The world is ready for you
• 9:03
  Laura: Once again, Saule rose.
• 9:05
  Laura: Day followed night.
• 9:07
  Laura: Night followed day.
• 9:09
  Laura: Warmth followed coolness.
• 9:12
  Laura: Activity followed rest.
• 9:14
  Laura: And Žemė received both kinds of care.
• 9:20
  Laura: That is one traditional Lithuanian explanation for why the sun and moon usually travel through the sky at different times.
• 9:31
  Laura: Today, science tells us that day and night happen because Earth rotates or spins.
• 9:37
  Laura: The moon can sometimes be seen during the daytime too.
• 9:42
  Laura: But traditional stories are not trying to replace science.
• 9:47
  Laura: They help us discover how people looked at the world, wondered about what they saw, and shaped their questions into stories.
• 9:56
  Laura: The Lithuanian people who shared this story noticed a pattern in the sky.
• 10:02
  Laura: The bright sun ruling the day and the glowing moon often appearing at night.
• 10:08
  Laura: Then they wondered, why do they take turns?
• 10:13
  Laura: Their answer became a story about a family, a disagreement, and two different ways of caring for the same world.
• 10:22
  Laura: And perhaps there is something we can carry from that story.
• 10:26
  Laura: What's inside our belief backpack this week?
• 10:32
  Laura: Sometimes two people argue because each believes their way is the only right way.
• 10:40
  Laura: Different does not always mean one is better and the other is worse.
• 10:45
  Laura: Sometimes the best answer is to listen, notice what is needed, and make room for both.
• 10:54
  Laura: That is what we can place in our Belief Backpacks today.
• 10:58
  Laura: We can care in different ways and both ways can matter.
• 11:04
  Laura: Tonight, if you say Mėnulis glowing above you, imagine him keeping his quiet watch over Žemė.
• 11:11
  Laura: And tomorrow morning, when Saule fills the sky with light, remember, it is her turn now.
• 11:18
  Laura: Day and night, light and shadow, work and rest.
• 11:25
  Laura: Each has a place, each has a purpose, and each patiently waits for its turn.
• 11:32
  Laura: Until next time, this has been Laura from Faithfully Explore.
• 11:36
  Laura: Stay curious, stay kind, and keep faithfully exploring that wonderful world around you.
• 11:42
  Faithfully Explore! Outro: Faithfully Explore!
• 11:45
  Faithfully Explore! Outro: is about you.
• 11:50
  Faithfully Explore! Outro: Let's grow kinder together it's true!