Ngalindi The Moon Man

Indigenous people of Northern Australia tell the story of Ngalindi.
This story explains why the phases of the moon happen.
Ngalindi was a big, round-bodied man. He was also very lazy and he did not look after his clan. Today, he is seen in the sky when it is dark and, sometimes, when it is light. Ngalindi’s family was very annoyed with him because he was so lazy. They decided to teach him a lesson by removing parts of his body.

Ngalindi managed to escape his family by climbing a tall tree. He tried to follow the Sun. However, he eventually completely disappeared and there was nothing left of him. When Ngalindi disappears, a new moon happens.

Ngalindi wanted to stay just the way he was: big, round and lazy. So, after three days, he started to get pieces of himself back and was finally himself again. When Ngalindi becomes himself again, a full moon occurs.

Ngalindi, however, returned to his old ways of irritating his family. They were not happy. So, after two weeks, his family began taking pieces of him away all over again! Ngalindi became very angry. He cursed all the humans and animals. Now, only he was the only one who could keep endlessly coming back to life.

This cycle repeats itself every month. Ngalindi will forever keep slowly disappearing and reappearing across the sky. According to Indigenous Australians, the different shapes of Ngalindi represent the phases of the moon.