Aurora Borealis

The Latin name for the northern Lights, Aurora Borealis, roughly translates to ‘northerly, red light of dawn’, which is quite fitting as the blazes dance across the dark winter sky in everything from green, blue, purple and sometimes even red. In the past, it was believed that the spectacle of the NorthernLights was a sign of higher powers.

Magical northern lights

The northern lights can be glimpsed over large parts of Europe and associated myths take many
different forms. However, it is most common to see the northern lights in the so-called aurora oval above the Arctic Circle and in Norse mythology it was believed that they were caused by all-father Odin who stood in constant preparation for the battle of Ragnarok. He needed
the bravest warriors at his side, and at every battle on earth, Odin chose who would die and accompany him to Valhalla. According to legend, the northern lights were the reflections of the Valkyries, the female warrior people, who led the chosen warriors to Valhalla and Odin’s side.

Others believed that northern lights were the last breaths of the fallen warriors or the shimmering bridge Bifrost that led the warriors from the underworld to Valhalla.

For some Sami, the Northern Lights were not about heroism or bravery – they were something
to respect and beware of. They believed the northern lights were the souls of the dead and therefore nothing to talk about. Waving, whistling or singing was dangerous as you could be taken to heaven if the lights were alerted to your presence.

Further south, the light often takes on a deep reddish hue, which may explain why the beautiful light phenomenon was associated with bad omens. When the blood-red light made itself known in the night sky, it was interpreted as a harbinger of war and death.

However, not everyone interpreted the northern lights as something ominous. In Denmark,
it was believed that the light was created by swans competing to see who could fly the farthest north.

In Finland it was believed that light came from fire foxes. The myth said that as the fire foxes ran, their tails swept up snowflakes which, together with the moonlight, created the aurora.
No matter what, the northern lights have fascinated and inspired people for years.