EXPLORING THE RELEVANCE OF THE BIG DIPPER ACROSS CULTURES.

Recognized globally as the Big Dipper, this seven-star asterism has served as a celestial guide since antiquity, marking the north pole’s direction. Hence, it has carved a crucial place within the cultural fabric of northern hemisphere societies.

In Italy, this constellation has been perceived as a chariot, while the Anglo-Saxon and Slavic cultures identify it as a dipper. Its presence extends to Northern England as the plow, while French and Dutch societies sometimes liken it to a casserole. In the frosty landscapes of Scandinavia, it's often referred to as the Charlemagne Chariot, a nod to the historical figure, whereas in Sami culture, beyond the Arctic Circle, it embodies a traditional hunter's bow.

Crossing the Atlantic to America, Native Americans depicted it as a bear, occasionally accompanied by three cubs or pursued by hunters. Among the Inuit culture in northern Canada, the asterism symbolizes a caribou.

Venturing to the Asian continent, in China, the seven stars are referred to as the Northern Dipper. Meanwhile, in Southeast Asia, the constellation's names bear a strong connection to their maritime lifestyle. It's linked to a rudder in Vietnam, a boat in Malaysia, and canoes in Indonesia. Interestingly, in Myanmar, it's associated with crustaceans.

In the ancient sacred Sanskrit texts of the Vedas, revered in Hinduism, these stars are known as the Seven Sages, further underlining the global cultural significance of the Big Dipper.