Why The Sky Rose High : Folktales of the Sky

A simple analysis about different stories surrounding the sky.

Why The Sky Rose High : Folktales of the Sky

Introduction

When I was a kid, I thought the blue sky was the world’s ceiling — until I learned about space and its unlimited expanse. I’ve always wondered when the line between the sky and space blurs; however, I’ve come to the conclusion that the universe is limitless, but for a growing youth it is not. To answer that question, I first looked for its scientific explanation before turning to the perspectives of people who believed the blue sky was the world’s ceiling. Take a coffee, one analysis at a time.

Scientific Explanation

Before diving deep, let’s ground ourselves first. What really is the sky? According to NASA, we have multiple layers that surround our world — a protective bubble that allows life to exist. Basically, the “sky” is the Earth’s atmosphere that allows us to live and be protected while serving as a transition to outer space. The sky is not a solid object but the visible portion of Earth’s atmosphere illuminated by sunlight.

Now that we have grounded ourselves — let’s dive into Filipino Folklore.

A Deep Dive

Science is a big help to understand our world, but for those that have not yet learned what is the science behind the blue sky — our imagination and beliefs become the reference for folklore creation.

Ramos’ Folktale Retelling

From the book “Tales of Long Ago in the Philippines” written in 1910 by Maximo Ramos, he wrote a story titled “Why the Sky Rose High.” His story interprets the sky as a tangible thing, allowing the characters to hang up their objects when the sky was still low.

One unnamed character hung her jewelry and comb onto the sky. When she got angry due to the sky obstructing her activity she told it to go higher and higher — the jewelry and comb became the moon and stars, explaining why the sky now rests far beyond human reach.

Cook’s Myth Story

Another folktale retelling is from the “Philippine Folk Tales” written by Mabel Cook in 1916. A story about Lumabet who has the power of a god by creating miracles and commanding the sky itself by creating a deal that will keep the sky high — by allowing it to take the last passerby. The story ended with Lumabet that was trapped in heaven by the spirits and was allowed escape with him being lowered down in heaven, head first, that transformed him into an owl.

Sechrist’s Folktale Story

Sechrist’s book “Once in the First Times : Folktales from the Philippines” written in 1903 tells a different story of “Why the Sky is High.” The sky was created by God to be able to hear people’s prayers more closely and answer them quickly. One day, a dancer has a desire to outdo the other warriors and forgot that the sky is close — accidentally wounding one of God’s angels. As punishment, God raised the sky so high up that no man could touch it.

Interpretation

These folktales tell different stories about the sky. They see it as an entity that can move at will and create decisions or deals. Some see it as the place where God and his angels reside. Though they have their differences the ending will still conclude with the sky high up that no man can touch it. Furthermore, there are distinct emotions and concepts felt within these stories. Ramos’ retelling shows human anger, Cook’s human leadership, cruelty, and miracles, and Sechrist’s that presents God’s anger as origin.

These distinctions suggest that folklore is shaped by human beliefs, imagination, emotions, and cultural values. By reading these influences we can understand that this is humanity’s work that ensures timelessness while preserving its message for future generations.

Moreover, although there is no direct evidence linking the two versions, I wonder whether Ramos’ retelling reflects a child-friendly oral adaptation of the version preserved by Sechrist. I also questioned the belief and symbolism of the color white and the spirits that are embedded in Cook’s version. What does Lamabet mean?

Lastly, all of these stories have answered my question that I have always asked. “I wonder what people in history think of the sky when there was no science?”

Writer’s Reflection

Reading all of these retellings brings back a sense of familiarity. I remember reading Ramos’ retelling in my elementary days. It really made me happy that I can still remember it while researching this.

However, how can we apply it to writing? This investigation showed me that there really is no correct origin for another tale — meaning, this can help cover plot holes that arise throughout your stories. Another character may believe that this is the true origin while there is another origin emerging about a certain concept.

I hope this analysis is helpful for you, the one taking a Coffee Break. Let’s have a drink in the next one.

References

Analyses
Folklore
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