The night of the falling stars, often associated with the Perseids, is a celestial event that has fascinated humanity for centuries. In many cultures, this meteor show has been surrounded by legends and myths that reflect the hopes, dreams and beliefs of the peoples.
The link between falling stars and desires has ancient roots and, still today, the passage of meteors to the realization of personal aspirations is associated. According to tradition, the falling stars are considered the tears paid by San Lorenzo during his martyrdom, which took place on 10 August of 258 AD, when he was burned alive. Since then, the faithful have started to express desires to the passage of the falling stars, hoping that the saint listened to them and brought them luck.
Starting from Italy and precisely from San Lorenzo, the story that binds him to falling stars has been handed down from 258 ADyear of his martyrdom. St. Lorenzo, a deacon of the Christian Church, was martyred in Rome on 10 August of 258 AD during his martyrdom, Lorenzo was burning alive on a graychola, a particularly cruel execution method. The legend that binds his figure to falling stars developed over time as a symbolic reflection of his sacrifice and faith. The story that associates San Lorenzo and the shooting stars has its roots in the way it was martyred. The graticola on which Lorenzo was arso alive was a symbol of torture and ardor, but also of resistance and unshakable faith. After his martyrdom, San Lorenzo became a symbol of brightness and spiritual ardor. In the Middle Ages, the rain meteor that occurs every year on the night of August 10, known as Le Perseids, was interpreted as the “tears” of San Lorenzo. According to legend, falling stars are the sign of martyrdom and sacrifice of San Lorenzo. It was believed that, every year, during his party, the sky was sprinkled with these “tears of fire” that represent his martyrdom and his sacrifice for the Christian faith.
In Russia, the legend of Laika and the Perseids has its roots in an overwhelming and impossible love story. Laika, a young and beautiful princess, was in love with a brave warrior. However, a curse threw a shadow on their happiness, separating them forever. But every year, during the night of the Perseids, the sky lit up with falling stars, and these bright stars were seen as the kisses that the two lovers could not exchange on earth. Each falling star was a messenger of eternal love, and the night sky turned into a celestial stage for their indissoluble bond.
In Japan, the night of the falling stars is intrinsically linked to the Tanabata Festival, an opportunity for celebration and hope. The legend tells of Orihime, the weaver of the stars, and Hikoboshi, the shepherd of cows, two lovers separated from the vastness of the Milky Way. During the year, the distance between their stars was unbridgeable, but at the Tanabata Festival, it is believed that Orihime and Hikoboshi can finally rejoin. The falling stars that crown the sky are considered the tears of joy of these celestial lovers who finally find themselves and dance together among the stars.
In Greece, the night of the Perseids is wrapped in the belief that the falling stars are the dreams of the gods. According to mythology, Zeus and the other gods of Mount Olympus They send these meteors as messages to humans. Each falling star is seen as a sign of divine benevolence or a warning that requires attention. The night of the Perseids thus becomes a special moment to listen to the celestial messages and reflect on the signs of fate that the sky offers.
In China, a fascinating legend describes the falling stars like arrows thrown by the gods. According to the myth, these meteors are the divine bullets used to maintain order in the sky and on earth. The luminous arrows that cross the sky during the night of the Perseids are seen as signs of protection and divine guide. Each falling star represents an arrow that guides humans and protects the world from darkness.
Finally, in Honduras, the legend of the “sisters of the sky” tells of seven souls of sisters who, to escape a terrible storm, ascended to heaven. Each year, during the night of the Perseids, these sisters can get off their celestial residence and dance among the stars. This meteor show is interpreted as a sign of good luck and protection for those who observe the night sky, offering a sense of blessing and hope.
But not only legends. Some of the most beautiful phrases in the world are dedicated to falling stars. Babbel, the leading ecosystem in learning languages, has selected idiomatic expressions on the stars around the world.
As Esteban Touma, master of Babbel Live points out, the platform that offers live online lessons held by highly qualified teachers, the verb “desire” derives from the Latin “desire”, composed of “de-” (which can mean removal or deprivation) and “Sidqui” (stars), suggesting a linguistic connection with the stars. The term desire therefore indicates a feeling of lack for something that is deemed necessary to possess (metaphorically “the stars”) for one’s physical and/or spiritual well -being.
It is therefore not surprising that expressions that connect the stars and desires are born in different countries of the world:
天に向かって矢を放つ (ten ni ni mukatte ya or hanatsu) / 星がっている (Hoshigatte Iru): The Japanese expression translatable with the phrase “Taking an arrow towards the sky” is used to indicate efforts or actions that aim to achieve objectives that are difficult to achieve. The image of an arrow shot up without hitting a precise target reflects the idea of a desire that could be impossible to materialize. The expression “Hoshigatte Iru”on the other hand, it can be translated with “being owned by a star” and is used above all in poetic or literary contexts to describe people who have a special aura or a charisma that distinguishes them from the others. The idea of being “owned by a star” evokes images of size and uniqueness, similar to the brilliance of the stars in the night sky and also reflects the importance of the stars in Japanese culture: an example, in this sense, is the Tanabata event (the Festival of the Stars, similar to the night of San Lorenzo in Italy) in which the meeting of the Orihime and Hikoboshi deities are celebrated, represented by the Stars Vega and Altair, They write their desires on strips of paper (Tanzaku) and then hang them on the bamboo branches, hoping they will be fulfilled.
To hitch one’s wagon to a Star / to reach for the stars: These two English idiomatic expressions share a common theme of ambition and aspiration. The first can be translated with the phrase “attacking your carriage to a star” and means pursuing grandiose objectives and aspirations, even at the cost of “exploiting” the knowledge of more powerful and successful people and who can help “tow their own chariot” until reaching their dreams. The second, which means “aiming high” and trying to create ambitious objectives, derives from the idea that the stars, being so far and unreachable, represent extremely difficult goals to be achieved. Both expressions are linked to the Latin phrase “Astra”, which means “to the stars”: the phrase originates from Virgil, which in the Aeneid wrote “Sic Itur ad Astra” (“So you travel to the stars”) and “Opt Ardua Pennis Astra Sequi” (“desire to chase the high/ difficult stars to be reached on the wings”).
Apunta in Las Estrellas / Estrellarse: The Spanish phrase translatable with “Mira to the stars” can remind a first reading the structure of the previous Japanese expression, but in this meaning it is full of positive values: it is in fact an encouragement to be ambitious and aspire to “reach the stars” because significant results would still be obtained and their personal standards would be elected. Not to be confused with “Estrellarse” which means instead “crash” or “go and slam against the stars”: the etymology of the verb is in fact linked to the idea of a “falling star” or the impact of a star that falls. The origin of this expression, which is used to describe a sensational failure or total failure, dates back to the idea of an ambitious flight that ends up in a disaster, similar to English “to crash and burn”. It is often used in contexts in which someone has attempted something very difficult or risky and has failed in a spectacular way.
Être une étoile upright / tirer des plas sur la comète: This French phrase, translatable into Italian with “being a nascent star”, is metaphorically used to define a person who is gradually conquering greater notoriety and fame. As well as a star that “rises” in the sky, the professional or personal life of a “nascent star” is on the rise and becomes more and more brilliant. “Tirer des plas sur la comète”on the other hand, literally means “tracing projects on the comet” and is used to describe someone who makes unrealistic or too ambitious plans. The origin of the expression dates back to 1882 when a very brilliant comet appeared in the sky, arousing great curiosity among the observers; At the time, however, with limited tools and knowledge, predicting the trajectory of a comet was extremely difficult and uncertain so the expression is still used today to indicate a planning that does not have a concrete base.
Unter Einem Guten Stern Stehen / Sternstunden: the German expression “Unter Einem Guten Stern Stehen”, translatable with “being under a good star” is linked to the ancient belief that the stars had the power to modify the fate of men. In this sense, when referring to someone born under the influence “of a good star” we intend to describe a person full of luck in daily circumstances. “Sternstunden” Instead, it refers to moments of great importance or happiness: literally translatable as “Stellar hours”, this expression was made popular by the German poet Friedrich Schiller in his drama “Wallenstein”. The “Sternstunden” represent those rare and precious moments in a person’s life, comparable to the vision of a falling star, which bring great joy.
