Eclipse of the sun, ashe okleleqa (“sun dark or dirty”).
The Choctaw say that since the sun works every day he becomes dirty and smoked from the great fire within. It is necessary therefore for him to rest and clean himself, after doing which he shines the brighter. During the eclipse he is removing the accumulated dirt.
A similar explanation applies to the dark of the moon, their term being:
nînaahukwa oklelega, koshsholeje, or
moon dark or dirty, cleaning
