Red Sunsets in Maine – A Good or Bad Omen?
Neither would be the practical answer ... unless of course, you are superstitious or perhaps your culture believes otherwise. All data and science points to the sun being red during these last couple of sunsets because of wildfires in Canada. In fact, read more here on what's going on with our friends to the north.
HOWEVER, if you like to dabble into different cultures and ancient beliefs, then here are a few alternative meanings behind the red sun we have been experiencing lately in Maine.
In the Japanese Culture, The Red Sun is Their Emblem of Identity
This seems extremely obvious, but I am shocked that I never even considered this. The red sun is on their flag that you have surely seen many times (just turn on any WWII movie).
Japan is known as 'Land of the Rising Sun' because of their geological location (majority of their coast faces east). The history and meaning behind the red circle, or red sun, is extremely symbolic to Japan's culture and heritage. In Japanese art, the red sun is a sign of hope and renewal. If you have something going on in your life requiring hope or something being renewed (hopefully more exciting than a driver's license or your Sam's Club membership) then the recent sunsets have been for you.
Not Sure We Will Like the Red Sun Meaning of Ancient Egypt for Maine
Brief research on the meaning of a red sun in ancient Egypt produced pretty ambiguous results. A red sun could mean life-giving blood and radiance. That seems nice, HOWEVER, it could also mean rage and war. Let's skip to the next one.
Red Sun in the Chinese Culture is One We Could Hop on Board With in Maine
In the Chinese culture, this website shares that a red sun means happiness, prosperity, and good luck. You know what - let's go with that and stop here because Egypt scared us.
Several cultures, religions, archaic and present all have a 'belief' behind a red sun, and however you may interpret this last red sunset, or not interpret at all and just take it as a red sun from wildfire smoke, we can all agree that it sure was pretty. See photos shared from Mainers below.