By Kate MacKenzie
Special to Okanogan Living
The Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis) are absolutely awe-inspiring, outshining anything created by mankind. In my opinion, they surpass the Pyramids, the Great Wall of China, or any other human-made structures or paintings. Given their mesmerizing dance across the sky and changing colors, it’s no wonder there are legends, stories, and superstitions associated with these flowing, captivating lights.
Given the fascination with the lights, it is not surprising that northern indigenous peoples have had legends and superstitions associated with them for centuries. One such belief is that the lights represent the warrior women who led Odin’s chosen warriors into Valhalla. The vibrant colors of the lights were thought to symbolize clashing swords and the cries of warriors in the sky. That said, many scientists argue that the lights make no sound. However, having been close to the lights in the north, I can say they are wrong. You can hear the lights, so it’s no wonder that many legends and stories comment on the sound they make.
The Cree believed the lights were the spirits of the departed trying to contact loved ones on Earth. The Inuit believed the lights were the spirits of the dead playing a game of soccer with a walrus skull. The Dene of Alaska and Canada believed the lights were the spirits of animals that had been hunted, with caribou dancing across the sky. Danes thought the lights were swans competing to see who could fly further north, and Swedish fishermen believed they were reflections of schools of herring. In Finland, it was believed the lights were created by Arctic foxes swishing their tails across the sky. Scholars, upon reading ancient Anglo-Saxon texts, found that they believed the lights were signs of dragons, and the ancient Chinese also viewed the lights as dragons. There are countless legends and stories about this phenomenon, all fascinating and quite understandable.
Aurora Borealis is responsible for a thriving tourism industry in the winter, when the lights are most active. Tourism is a major draw in Alaska, Canada, Norway, Greenland, Iceland, and Finland, bringing an economic boost to these regions. There are photography tours, aurora-chasing trips, and various winter excursions. A superstition held by many Japanese and Chinese is that a child conceived under the lights will be blessed with good looks, intelligence, and good fortune. They believe the Aurora is linked to fertility and will produce blessed children. This belief also fuels tourism in the north.
It is amazing and interesting to explore the impact the Northern Lights have had on indigenous peoples for thousands of years. The lights are mentioned in legends, folklore, texts, and superstitions throughout history. These stories continue to be believed, and the lights remain a source of awe. There are many more stories—some spiritual, some romantic, some fanciful—all fascinating.
To be in the north when the lights are at their peak and listening to someone tell a story about them is truly magical. ♦
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