The cultural significance of the sun in folklore across the world

Across continents and centuries, the Sun has occupied a central role in folklore and mythology. Revered as a life-giver and cosmic guide, its daily rise and fall inspired countless stories that explain not just the physical world, but humanity’s place within it. Whether depicted as a god, a chariot-riding hero, or a fierce yet nurturing mother, the Sun has always held a sacred place in the collective imagination.

Ancient deities of light

In Ancient Egypt, the Sun was embodied by Ra, the supreme deity who sailed across the sky by day and journeyed through the underworld by night. Similarly, in Hindu mythology, Surya rides his golden chariot drawn by seven horses, illuminating the world with wisdom and divine presence. For the Aztecs, the Sun god Huitzilopochtli required nourishment through rituals and sacrifice, reflecting the people’s dependence on solar energy for sustenance and agricultural cycles.

Feminine sun, Masculine moon

Interestingly, while many cultures personify the Sun as male, some reverse this polarity. In Norse mythology, the Sun is a goddess named Sól, who drives her solar chariot pursued by a wolf—symbolising the fleeting nature of daylight in northern latitudes. Likewise, the Japanese Shinto goddess Amaterasu is the radiant matriarch of the heavens, revered as the progenitor of the imperial family and enshrined in the sacred Ise Grand Shrine.

Cycles of light and darkness

Folklore often weaves the Sun into tales of death and rebirth, reflecting its daily disappearance and return. In Aboriginal Australian stories, the Sun-woman rises each morning from a hole in the ground and travels across the sky, lighting fires to warm the earth. Meanwhile, in Andean legends, the Inca trace their origins to Inti, the Sun god, whose golden rays nourished both crops and lineage.

A global symbol of hope

Beyond religious or mythological roles, the Sun is a cross-cultural symbol of hope, clarity, and renewal. Its light dispels darkness—both literal and metaphorical. From sun dances of Native American tribes to solar festivals like Makar Sankranti in India or Sol Invictus in Rome, the Sun's presence unites communities in celebration and reverence.

In folklore, the Sun is not merely a celestial body—it is an enduring emblem of power, warmth, and the promise of a new dawn.