Tane, god of the forest, used his head and feet to separate his parents.
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Courtesy of Corel Corporation
Papa
The Maori people of New Zealand believe that at the beginning of time the sky was
so in love with the
Earth that they were always embracing each other. The sky was
male and his name was
Rangi; the Earth was female and was named Papa.
Their endless grasp kept their children tightly inside. After several attempts,
one of the children, Tane, the god of forest, finally succeeded in breaking free. He pushed his father with his head and his mother with his feet. Once separated, the
sky and the Earth assumed their present position.
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