One day, the Eggun (dead) came down to the Earth and made a bet with Sacrifice (Chango’s brother), that the moon would come out that night in all her splendor.
Straight away, Sacrifice went to his father Orula and told him about the bet. Orula laughed and asked “Why did you make such a foolish wager? The Eggun come from heaven – they see everything.”
After much thought, Orula decided to call Eleggua and asked him to close the Moon’s roads, so that Sacrifice could win his bet with the Eggun.
Eleggua went to the Moon and saw her beautiful, white dress. Suddenly, he had an idea! He found some children and promised to give them candy and other treats if they messed up the Moon’s dress and got it dirty, so that she would be too embarassed to make her nightly journey across the sky.
The children messed up the Moon’s dress, the moon yelled at the children, and together they made such a racket that finally Olodumare (God) asked in exasperation what had happened. The moon apologized and explained what had happened.
“No problem,” said Olodumare. “Why don’t you take the might off and start a new cycle tomorrow night instead?”
Sacrifice won the bet and the dead NEVER figured out why! That’s why the dead never come out when they want to but only when God wants them to.
MORAL : Eleggua is ALWAYS the one who opens and closes the roads – even for the Moon!
