Aurora in the eyes of different cultures; From legend to reality

On smooth nights and in the northernmost areas of the earth, the sky can become the dance scene of colorful and neon strips. This phenomenon, known as “Aurora” or “Northern Lights”, has attracted humans for almost 5 BC. As the solar activity approaches, it is more likely to see this amazing view; There are even hotels that provide special services to watch it.

Today, scientists have largely discovered the secret of Aurora; When the electric pregnant particles collide from the Earth’s atmosphere from the sun; But thousands of years ago, the scientific tools needed to explain this phenomenon were not available to humans. Instead, various societies, with the creation of indigenous and folk myths and stories, attempted to understand the secret of this heavenly play. For some, the polar Aurora was a sign of badmani and had to be treated with respect; But for others, these glorious lights promised a good -natured.

The mysterious foxes of the legendary, the grants of the kind and ghost giants who kick the skull of a sea boar; Over time, humans have interpreted the Aurora in a variety of ways. In this article, we will discuss how this interpretation and the meaning of Aurora in different cultures.

Aurora in myths and myths is often associated with animals, indicating a deep connection between natural phenomena and wildlife in human imagination. In Estonia, the creatures that were thought to be responsible for this night show were called the “Whale of the Whales”. It was popular that when these whales came together and jumped out of the water, their skin shone in the sky and creates polar Aurora.

Photographer: Unknown / afar.com

Tom Kers, a North Aurora researcher in Norway, says:

In another legend, the North Aurora is a sign of a dream marriage in the sky. In this story, the bird and horse carriage take the guests to this monopoly party and leave brilliant traces of light on the way.

The Finnish word “Revontulet” used for Aurora means “fiery foxes” and is rooted in an ancient belief about the origin of these lights. In legends, a mythical fox would hit the surface of the snow with its tail or make itself on the slopes of the mountains and create sparks that were seen in the sky.

Photographer: Unknown / afar.com

The Sami people, the indigenous population living in Finland, Norway, Russia and Sweden, believed that when these lights appear, they should be treated with respect. Marjo Laukkanen, author of the book “The Arctic Calls and the North”, says:

According to their traditional beliefs, the Samiis saw the Aurora as the living things that speak and understand the language. That is why people have to remain silent when the Aurora occur.

It was publicly believed that disrespect for the lights would bring luck. For this reason, people were not allowed to play or laugh at the emergence of aurora. Also, it was forbidden to point to lights; Because they believed that this would give ghosts the opportunity to take someone and take the night sky.

Lavannon goes on to say:

Naturally, these stories and beliefs have changed over time. Today, the scientific understanding of this phenomenon has increased greatly, and the Sami people no longer consider the polar Aurora very mysterious; Rather, they have accepted it as a natural phenomenon.

Maria Kreutzmann is the founder of an institute who introduces Greenland culture by holding various lectures and workshops. According to him, the Aurora or North Lights is the ghost highway in Greenland. On the way to the other world, they dance and kick in the sky, and along the way, kicking a seafood skull.

Photographer: Unsual / Suchscience

Also, Crotzmann points out that some people believe that children born under Aurora’s light have extraordinary talents.

According to Asgeir Long, the Tour Guide, North Lights have had different meanings for the people of Iceland; Some believe that Aurora would reduce the pain of childbirth. However, you should never look directly to them; Otherwise, the child may be born with tilted eyes or so -called Luch. His colleague also states a few other symbolic beliefs:

Some believed that the appearance of Aurora was a confirmation of a battle in some parts of the world. There was another belief that the weather can be predicted from the way the lights dance in the sky. That is, if the motion of the lights was too fluid and fluid, it would have been a storm.

Photographer: Unknown / afar.com

The native Canada and northern US tribes (including Alaska) have many myths and narratives about Aurora’s heavenly dance. For some societies, these lights were a bad sign.

Inopiat people in northern Alaska considered polar Auroras evil and carried weapons to protect themselves. Similarly, the Fox Indians in the state of Wisconsin also regarded the lights as the spirits of their enemies who intended to renew and fight again.

Other indigenous groups had a positive view of the Aurora. For example, the people of Athabascan, located in central Alaska, are the souls of animals such as the northern deer, salmon and white whale they have hunted.

Photographer: Unknown / Smithsonian Magazine

Menominee Indians in the West of the United States also believed that the Aurora was the kind of kind giants who need light for spear fishing at night.

For the people of Algonquin (Algonquin) living in areas now called Quebec and Ontario in Canada, Aurora was a great reflection of a large fire that Nanabozho was infiltrated; Someone who, in their view, has created the land and moved to the north, reminds them of them.

In some stories of the Sami people, the polar Aurora should not be underestimated. Tom Cres says:

If one attracts their attention, especially if it is alone, it may be kidnapped and taken to the sky, and there will never be a trace of him. In my opinion, this belief is probably an effective way to prevent your children from roaming at night alone.

Cres adds that in other legends, the Aurora could be used to resolve the dispute; It was as if they fought together in the sky and on behalf of the struggling people. He added:

“Guvsahas” is one of the words used in Sami to describe them and means “the light being heard”.

Photographer: Denis Belitsky / Afar.com

Cres explains that in rare cases, the polar Aurora is associated with the sounds that are thought to be due to the electrostatic processes that occur near the surface of the Earth. The Sami people seem to have been familiar with this amazing phenomenon.

Although the Vikings came to the area much later, in the mythology of Nuris (Scandinavian), the Aurora was associated with “Bifrost” (Bifrost, a rainbow and fiery bridge that connected the earth to the land of the gods). The Vikings believed that these lights reflect the armor and shields of the warriors who were killed in the war and moving to their eternal tomb.

In the coastal areas of Sweden, the word “Sillblixt” was used for Aurora, whose literal meaning was “king’s shine”. Tom Cres explains:

In Sweden, people believed that the northern lights were a sign of blessings and abundance, referring to the abundance of fish in the Bouti and Baltic Sea. They thought that the brilliant scales of the fish would shine the light to the night sky.

Photographer: Unknown / Hurtigrute

What do you know of the myths related to Aurora? Have you ever seen this phenomenon closely? Please share your valuable look, opinion and experience with Kajaro and its companions.

Cover photo source: aarp; Photographer’s name: Unknown