Shakespeare refers to the man in the moon in A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
The Man in the Moon is the supposed image of a man’s face that some cultures believe is visible on the surface of the moon. Most people agree that the face is only visible when there is a full moon. The image is said to be made up of a series of dark areas that mimic two eyes, a nose, and an open mouth. These areas are actually some of the moon’s seas, such as Mare Imbrium and Serenitatis, which people associate with the eyes of man.
Some cultures believe that a man’s face can be seen on the moon.
Legend has it that the Man in the Moon is a real man. The oldest traditions hold that his face is that of Cain, who was condemned to go around the earth and observe forever what he could not have because of his betrayal. Other legends say that it is an old man carrying a bundle of sticks. Shakespeare mentions it in A Midsummer Night’s Dream and refers to his lantern, his hawthorn and his dog. Even in ancient Rome and Egypt there were legends explaining the face of the moon.
While most legends do not attribute a specific origin to the Man in the Moon, some societies have an esoteric explanation for the face. For example, the Inuit believe that he keeps safe the souls of men and animals who have died. Likewise, the Nepalese believe that it is actually the face of someone who has already passed away, since whoever dies goes to the moon.
The Man in the Moon doesn’t always look like the face of a man, or even like a human being. In some cultures he is a woman or an animal, and the most common figures include a rabbit or hare, a frog or a buffalo. In modern times, people identify many images when looking at the full moon, depending on their belief system and environment. Unusual sightings include pirates, a man with glasses, a girl and a frog.