The Significance of the Northern Lights Across Cultures

On clear nights in the far north, the sky can burst into a stunning display of neon-hued, flowing ribbons. This phenomenon, known as the aurora borealis or northern lights, has captivated humanity since at least 957 B.C.E. (and as we near the solar maximum, the likelihood of witnessing this spectacle increases).

Today, scientists understand that the northern lights are produced when electrically charged particles from the sun collide with the Earth’s atmosphere. However, centuries ago, people lacked the scientific means to explain this dazzling event.

Instead, communities crafted folk tales to demystify the solar display. For some, it signaled impending doom and warranted caution. For others, the aurora was seen as a sign of good fortune and optimism.

Here’s how different cultures have interpreted the northern lights throughout history.

Finland

In Finnish, the aurora borealis is referred to as revontulet, meaning 'fire foxes,' derived from an ancient belief regarding the lights' origins. According to folklore, a mythical fox would sweep its tail across the snow or brush against the mountains, sending sparks into the sky.

The Sami, an Indigenous group found across Finland, Norway, Russia, and Sweden, believed that the appearance of the lights warranted respect.

"Traditional Sami beliefs view the auroras as sentient beings that can speak and comprehend language," Marjo Laukkanen, author of The Arctic Calls – Finland, the European Union and the Arctic Region (Europe Information/Ministry of Foreign Affairs Finland, 2013), shared with Dinogo. "This is why people are expected to remain silent when the auroras are visible."

It was thought that showing disrespect to the lights would invite bad luck. Consequently, people were prohibited from playing or laughing in their presence. Additionally, it was deemed crucial not to point at the lights, as it might give the spirits something to seize, potentially pulling you into the night sky.

"Of course, stories and beliefs evolve over time," Laukkanen remarked. "Our scientific comprehension of these phenomena has significantly advanced, and the Sami people now regard the northern lights more as a natural occurrence than a mystical event."

Greenland

"Arsarnerit, commonly referred to as the northern lights or aurora borealis, is considered the highway of the dead in Greenland," stated Maria Kreutzmann, founder of Glaciem House, which offers talks and workshops on Greenlandic culture, in an interview with Dinogo. "The souls of the departed dance and traverse the skies along this path on their journey to the afterlife." She added that they also play with a walrus skull along the way, as arsarnerit translates to "ball games."

Kreutzmann also mentioned that some believe children conceived under the northern lights possess extraordinary talents.

Iceland

As per Hidden Iceland guide Ásgeir Long, the northern lights have signified various things to Icelanders throughout history: Some believed the auroras could alleviate childbirth pain. However, it was crucial never to gaze directly at them, or the child would be born cross-eyed. Her colleague, Unnur Silfá, shared other symbolic interpretations of the lights: “They indicated that a battle was taking place somewhere,” she noted. Additionally, the manner in which the aurora moved across the sky was thought to predict the weather. “If it flowed particularly smoothly, that meant a storm was on the horizon,” Silfá explained.

North America

Indigenous tribes across present-day Canada and the northern United States (including Alaska) have a wealth of folktales regarding this celestial phenomenon.

For some communities, the lights were seen as foreboding. The Iñupiat people of northern Alaska viewed them as evil omens and carried weapons for protection. Similarly, the Fox Indians of Wisconsin perceived them as the spirits of their foes rising to engage in battle once more.

In contrast, other Indigenous groups regarded the lights positively. The Athabascan people of interior Alaska believed they were the spirits of animals they had hunted, such as moose, salmon, and beluga whales. The Menominee Indians of the Midwest thought they represented the torches of benevolent giants who required light for nighttime spearfishing. For the Algonquin people of what is now Quebec and Ontario, Canada, the aurora was attributed to the reflection of a great fire created by Nanabozho—who they believe fashioned the Earth and retreated to the far north—to show that he was thinking of them.

Norway

In Norse mythology, the northern lights were linked to the Bifröst, a blazing rainbow bridge that connects Earth to Asgard, the realm of the gods. The Vikings believed that the lights were reflections of the armor and shields of fallen warriors on their journey to their final resting place.

Sweden

In coastal Sweden, the traditional term for the northern lights was sillblixt (though it has become less common). This phrase translates to 'herring flash,' based on the belief that the dazzling display was caused by the reflection of light off the scales of vast schools of fish swimming in nearby waters. Their presence was seen as a sign of an impending bountiful catch.