The Kuwae eruption in 1452-1453 was a significant volcanic event in Vanuatu that caused widespread global cooling and unusual weather patterns. This eruption released vast amounts of ash and gases into the atmosphere, impacting climate and agriculture in various regions. The climatic effects of the eruption contributed to food shortages and social unrest in some areas. This event underscored the profound influence of natural disasters on human societies.

The Kuwae eruption from 1452-1453 coincided with events that influenced late medieval European and Asian literary motifs of omens. Poets began to explore themes of nature's power and the human response to catastrophic events, reflecting on the fragility of existence in their works.