Mythology and Legends of the Northern Lights: A Cultural Tapestry
Norse Mythology: In Norse traditions, the Northern Lights were believed to be the glow from the shields of the Valkyries, warrior maidens who escorted fallen heroes to Valhalla.
Finnish Folklore: The Finnish called the auroras "revontulet," meaning "fox fires." Legend has it that a magical fox running through the snow would send sparks into the sky, creating the aurora.
The Inuit believed that the lights were the spirits of their ancestors playing games in the sky, while others thought they were the reflections of torches used by spirits during the hunt.
Sámi People: The Sámi, native to Scandinavia, viewed the aurora as a sacred phenomenon, often seeing it as the spirits of the dead.
They believed that if you waved at the lights, you could communicate with the spirits, but it was considered disrespectful to shout or whistle at them.
Alaskan and Canadian Legends: In Alaska, some Native American tribes, such as the Cree, viewed the lights as a reflection of the celestial realm,
while others believed they were the spirits of animals or people. The Cree thought the auroras represented the souls of great hunters.
Japanese Mythology: In Japan, the aurora was once linked to the god of war, Hachiman, believed to protect the country during times of strife, with the lights symbolizing divine intervention.