Have you ever looked up at the sky when it is really dark and you see millions and millions of stars?
It is beautiful to look at and if you look closely you will even see the stars make some 'patterns'. These are called the constellations.
There is a legend that tells the story of how these constellations and the 'Milky way' came to be.
Constellation - a group of stars forming a recognizable pattern that is traditionally named after its apparent form or identified with a mythological figure.
Once upon a time, long before there were any stars in the sky, the Maker asked the animals who would help him to add stars to the sky that they can shine down on Earth at night together with the moon.
The animals were very excited and the Maker decided they will each have a chance to tell him why they would like to do it and then he will choose the one who would help him.
Everybody told him their reasons, but it was Wolf who said "I want to deliver a service to all the other animals so that they can relax at night and just look at all the beautiful stars. I want to do something helpful and kind."
That is how Wolf was chosen to add the stars to the sky.
Wolf started working and he thought it would be an easy job that he can finish in a few days, but the Universe was so big and there were million of stars that needed to be placed in the sky. He carried on doing this for years and years, but eventually he became very bored with doing the same thing over and over every night.
One night when he was busy again, he decided that he would start making patterns and pictures with the stars.
Then he would be less bored.
Unfortunately he could not think of any pictures to make, but Bear came along and asked Wolf if he would make a picture of him in the sky. Wolf did it right away and within a few days there were a picture of Bear in the sky.
Bear told all his friends about this and some called this constellation 'the big dipper.'
All the animals now came running and every one of them wanted their 'picture' put up in the sky. The mouse and the rabbit insisted that there needs to be small animals' pictures also and Rabbit told Wolf that everybody would love to look at the stars if is was in the shape of a rabbit.
Owl landed close to Wolf and said "Well it is only fair if you put the animals' pictures in the sky that you also add the birds."
The animals all started screaming and shouting "PUT MY PICTURE ALSO UP IN THE SKY".
Wolf started adding a few pictures of different animals but eventually the animals were shouting so loudly that Wolf got cross and told them "It is too difficult to put all your pictures in the sky. It takes too long."
With that he grabbed the bag with all the left over stars and he just threw it up into the air. That is how the 'Milky Way' came to be.
That is why when you look up at the sky, you will see some constellations and on other places you will just see many stars together in no particular pattern.
If you want to get more interesting facts on the constellations, you can read here.
