Thousands of observers gathered in parts of Chile and Argentina on Monday to witness a rare and stunning total solar eclipse. The natural phenomenon is the second solar eclipse to be visible in Chile in the last 18 months.

Because of the perfect timing this time around, this year’s eclipse was especially breathtaking.

Solar eclipse in Argentina. Today🌹#SolarEclipse #Argentina #EclipseSolar2020 #Eclipse2020 #Eclipse #EclipseSolar #EclipseDelSigloEnTN #awesome pic.twitter.com/ZQY050jgSq

— 𝓃.𝓇.𝓃𝒶𝓇𝒶𝓎𝒶𝓃 ᴡɪᴛʜᴏᴜᴛ ᴍᴀʟɪᴄᴇ ɪɴ 🐥 ʟᴀɴᴅ 🌹 (@oman170490) December 14, 2020

The sky got especially dark this year because this eclipse occurred both during the summer in the Southern Hemisphere and closer to the middle of the day. The sun was higher in the sky, making the change from lightness to darkness especially stark.

A solar eclipse happens when the earth, the moon and the sun are in total alignment. It’s a phenomenon that is actually rare in most solar systems. Our solar system is unique in that our moon is the perfect size to be able to block out the sun.

Thousands of people traveled hundreds of miles, some even camping out over night to get the chance to observe the rare phenomenon. The biggest crowds gathered in the Araucanía region 500 miles south of Santiago, Chile’s capital. The gatherers were wearing face masks and special protective glasses so they could watch the eclipse without damaging their eyes.

The solar eclipse had special significance for the Mapuche indigenous community in Chile.

“In Mapuche culture the eclipse has different meanings — they talk about ‘Lan Antu’, like the death of the sun and the conflict between the moon and the sun,” said Estela Nahuelpan, a leader in the indigenous Mateo Nahuelpan community, to the Agence France-Presse (AFP). “It refers to the necessary balance that has to exist in nature.”

In Mapuche legend, during a solar eclipse, the the sun temporarily dies when it battles against an unknown evil force known as “Wekufu”. Indigenous expert Juan Nanculef told the AFP that the Mapuche people used to light bonfires and throw stones and arrows into the sky to help the sun in its fight against Wekufu.

In days past, the Mapuche community would consider an eclipse like this a bad omen. There is still a bit of superstition that lingers around the phenomenon. A man named Diego Ancalao, who is a member of the Mapuche community, told CBS News that the last solar eclipse in 2019 was followed by civil unrest in Chile as well as a global pandemic.

Here’s to hoping that this eclipse is a sign of all of the good times ahead!

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Ricky Martin is joining an all-star cast for Netflix’s newest holiday film. “Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey” is going to be the streaming giants’ next leap into the holiday film market and the cast of color is giving us so much to look forward to. The technology is helping to make it historic.

Netflix’s next Christmas movie is the POC magic we all deserve.

Forest Whitaker, Keegan-Michael Key, Phylicia Rashad, Anika Noni-Rose, and Ricky Martin are bringing the movie to life. The movie follows a toymaker and his granddaughter, played by Madalen Mills, on an epic Christmas adventure. Like any good Christmas movie, there is drama when an invention that could change their lives lands in the wrong hands.

Ricky Martin plays an evil toy called Don Juan Diego.

.@ricky_martin's Twins 'Loved' New Christmas Movie Jingle Jangle: They Are 'Very Harsh Critics' #PEOPLEtheTVShow pic.twitter.com/CcorMFZNhI

— People (@people) October 28, 2020

Don Juan Diego is a key part of Jeronicus Jangle’s woes as the invention is stolen from his workshop. In fact, Diego convinces Jangle’s protege (Keegan-Michael Key) to betray him. Diego is such a strong force that Key’s character betrays his mentor and spends his time finding ways to continue to make Jangle’s life harder. Martin took a lot of time to really perfect Diego to make sure that he was more than a one-dimensional evil Latino toy.

“This was a green light to be whoever you want to be and be vicious and Machiavellian and be mean,” Martin told NBC News. “I was running the lines in my house, and my kids would be like, ‘That’s not evil.’ And I would say, ‘Because you’re looking at me and I’m still your father.’ And they were like, ‘Yes, but you need to try harder and to be meaner.’ It took me seven, eight weeks to polish this character because is Don Juan Diego Castilian? Is he Colombian? Is he Mexican? We played with all the accents. We had to keep it very neutral. I hope this is the first movie of Don Juan Diego. Did I just say that?”

People have had it with the quarantine and can’t wait for holiday movies to fill the screen.

It’s about that time! pic.twitter.com/VAEdy5joiX

— The Live Action Reboot (@LiveActReboot) November 5, 2020

We have spent almost eight months confined to our homes and apartments. The least every streaming platform can do is have new holiday content already in their queue to make the season more festive. We all need things to look forward to right now so let’s do this, Netflix.

The movie is integrating new technology with Orbital Audio. The tech software allows for any pair of headphones to become surround sound. Orbital Audio is the first product launched with the Martin Music Lab. The first project for Orbital Audio was Martin’s latest album “Pausa.”

“When the lockdown started, I told my team, ‘Listen, we have to create something that is of impact. Let’s create something that will heal people. I don’t know what this is. I have no idea if it’s a vitamin we are going to invent. I don’t know if it’s a new kind of food. But let’s be open,’” Martin said on the Variety/iHeart podcast “The Big Ticket.”

Oh, not to mention that John Legend is behind the music.

Introducing the magical, wonderful, incredible #JingleJangle! Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey debuts on @NetflixFilm on Nov 13… Are you ready for it? @netflix @strongblacklead pic.twitter.com/q4KtkHgp5d

— John Legend (@johnlegend) October 28, 2020

That’s right. The music that will fill the movie, and your ears, comes from the talented and beloved John Legend. There really isn’t anything better than music from one of the greats, especially when it is Christmas music.

“Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey” will be streaming on Netflix starting Nov. 13.

READ: Mariah Carey Officially Declares It Christmas Season And Who Are We To Argue

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