Jaguar Nights Mayan Aztec Calendar book series
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RABBIT IN THE MOON

In ancient folklore, Mesoamerican people identified the markings on the moon as a rabbit. The Aztecs believed that Quetzalcoatl, as the mortal called 1-Reed, went on a journey. He became hungry and tired. A nearby rabbit, seeing the man's plight, offered herself as sustenance. In gratitude, Quetzalcoatl elevated her to the moon and told her she would never be forgotten, as her image would light the night forever.

The rabbit's image also could have gotten onto the moon via the Aztec creation myth, where the gods all met at Teotihuacan (outside of what is now Mexico City) to create the fifth (current) world. Two gods needed to sacrifice themselves to become the new sun and moon. Wealthy Tecciztecatl hesitated four times, afraid to throw himself into the fire to become the sun. Instead, the humble Nanahuatzin bravely flung himself into the flames and became the sun. Finally Tecciztecatl managed the courage to follow the other god into the fire and became a bright moon. The other gods, disgusted by his cowardice, threw a rabbit at him to dim his light. Tecciztecatl's original god-name has been lost; he is simply known now as the "Old Moon God."