The Northern Lights are a majestic celestial phenomenon that, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), occurs when "electrons from space move along Earth's magnetic field and collide with atoms and molecules in the upper atmosphere, forming a ring or oval centered on Earth's magnetic pole.".
There may now be a scientific explanation for this otherworldly light show, but it's understandable why people have attached spiritual significance to it for centuries. After all, imagine living in the early days of humanity, emerging from your cave to admire the stars, and seeing streaks of color writhing through the atmosphere like a cluster of fluorescent, stellar snakes. You'd probably think something like this could only be the work of the divine.
Of course, the fact that the sun creates beautiful lights in the sky instead of burning us alive or freezing us seems miraculous, no matter how well you understand why it happens. Below, you'll learn about various explanations, stories, and legends surrounding the northern lights from different cultures around the world.
- Space sports game
- Fire fox
- Spirits of the dead
- Fires
- Signs from the gods
- Signs
- Celestial Chariot
- Easy childbirth
- Heavenly weddings
- Fish scales
Space sports game
Some Inuit peoples of North America call the northern lights "aksarniit," which translates as "footballers." This stems from a legend that these lights are created when ancestral spirits kick a walrus's head in the sky. However, other traditions suggest that the lights are actually created by walruses , kicking human skulls.
Fire fox
The Finnish word for the northern lights is "revontulet," which translates as "fire fox." In Finnish mythology, the northern lights are created when a fox runs across the Arctic plains, lighting up the sky with sparks from its tail.
Spirits of the dead
The Sami are an indigenous people living in northern Finland, Sweden, and Norway, and the only recognized indigenous group in the European Union. According to traditional Sami beliefs, light is created by the souls of the dead.
Traditionally, people were expected to behave respectfully and solemnly when the lights were visible, and disrespectful behavior under their glow could lead to misfortune, illness, and even death. It was believed that if you attracted the lights' attention, they would carry you away.
At the same time, these fires were believed to possess spiritual power, and their glow helped relieve tension and resolve conflicts. Shamans' drums were often decorated with runes representing the northern lights, which were believed to help them harness the energy of these fires.
Many Native American tribes also have stories linking the northern lights to the souls of the dead. Some believed the aurora borealis allowed them to communicate with deceased loved ones, such as the Cree, who have legends that the lights are created by dancing spirits, and that when dogs bark at the northern lights, they are barking for deceased relatives and friends.
Some Vikings also held similar beliefs: in some Scandinavian legends, the lights were associated with a bridge over which souls passed from the world of the living to the world of the dead, while in others it was claimed that they were the breath of fallen warriors.
Fires
Various cultures have legends linking the northern lights to celestial fires or flames. In the Gundidjmara community of western Victoria, the northern lights are called "puae buae," or ashes. Meanwhile, the Dieri and Ngarrindjeri communities of South Australia believe the northern lights are fires lit by spirits in the sky.
The Menominee tribe of the Midwest associated these lights with the torches of benevolent giants seeking fishing among the stars. And many Algonquins living in what is now Canada attributed these lights to the creator of the Earth, Nanabozho, who, they believed, had moved north but lit glowing fires in the sky to show his regard for his creations.
Signs from the gods
Another group that ascribed divine significance to the northern lights were the Vikings, though for a very different reason. Some Vikings believed the northern lights were signs from the god Odin. They were seen as an indication that he had sent his warrior women, the Valkyries, to select great fallen Viking warriors who would later aid the gods in the battle at Ragnarok, the end of the world. Some Scandinavians also believed the lights were reflections from the Valkyries' shields.
Signs
In the lead-up to the overthrow of the French monarchy in the late 18th century, the sky was lit by a blood-red aurora borealis, which many perceived as a bad omen of impending bloodshed. However, this was far from the first time the aurora borealis was associated with impending disaster.
Some Inupiat in northern Alaska believed these lights were evil and carried weapons when they were seen. The Meskwaki, who live in what is now Wisconsin, also have stories suggesting these lights were the ghosts of their enemies, returning to threaten them further.
Meanwhile, in Scottish folklore, these lights are called "Merry Dancers" and are believed to symbolize a celestial battle. The Northern Lights were also sometimes said to be a sign of impending important changes and a warning to seek spiritual protection.
Celestial Chariot
In Greek mythology, the goddess Eos races across the sky every morning on her chariot, bringing the dawn. Similarly, in Roman mythology, Aurora is known as the goddess of dawn and sister of the sun and moon. The word "aurora borealis" is actually a combination of two words: the Latin term "aurora," meaning sunrise, and the Greek term "boreas," meaning north wind.
Easy childbirth
Some Icelandic legends say the Northern Lights help ease the pain of childbirth, but pregnant women were warned not to look too closely at them, lest their children be born cross-eyed. In Japan, another legend holds that children conceived under the Northern Lights will be lucky, intelligent, and beautiful.
Heavenly weddings
According to some Estonian legends, the northern lights were created by sleighs carrying guests to a cosmic wedding. "In another legend, the bright aurora borealis indicates a magical wedding ceremony taking place in the sky," says Tom Kerss, author of «Northern Lights: The Ultimate Guide to the Aurora Borealis »"Flying horse-drawn carriages whisk guests to this exclusive celestial celebration, leaving behind shimmering and dancing trails.".
Fish scales
In coastal Sweden, the traditional name for these lights is "silblixt," which translates as "herring flash." This corresponds to the belief that these lights were a good omen for fishermen, as the glow was thought to be created by the reflection of countless glittering fish scales in the sky. Other Swedish beliefs hold that these lights were positive signs, indicating a bountiful harvest.