The Man in the Moon is Cultural

The Man in the Moon is an example of pareidolia. This changes from culture to culture some cultures perceive the silhouette of a woman, a hare, a frog, moose, buffalo, or a dragon in the full moon. During Elizabethan England, the spots of Moon represented a witch carrying sticks of wood on her back, or an old man with a lantern. This was even illustrated by Shakespeare in his comedy A Midsummer Night's Dream. In Chinese culture, the rabbit in the moon is pounding medicine. Finally, in Japan and Korea, popular culture sees a rabbit making mochi and tteok (sweet rice cake-- sold everywhere on the streets).