What are some myths about Northern Lights?

Answer 1

VIKINGS referred to them as reflections from dead maidens.

SCOTS called the Northern Lights "Heavenly Dancers" or "Merry Dancers." "Merry Dancers" were supernatural beings warring in the heavens, and the battle is for the favour of a beautiful woman.

NATIVE AMERICANS perceived the northern lights as gods dancing above the sky. It was also a common belief that the northern lights were a gathering of medicine men and warriors in the land of far North. They held great feasts and prepared their fallen foes in huge cooking pots.

ESKIMOS IN GREENLAND thought it was the realm of the dead, and when the lights changed rapidly, it meant that dead friends were trying to contact their living relatives.

NATIVE AMERICANS believed that they could conjured up ghosts and spirits by whistling to the lights. It was a common belief that the northern lights were the reflections in the sky of huge fires in the distant north, or that the might God Himself lightened up the dark and cold parts of the world.

DENMARK & SWEDEN thought the northern lights were and active volcano in the north, placed there by the Creator to provide light and warmth in those cold, murky regions.

DANISH thought the lights were due to a throng of swans flying so far to the north that they were caught in the ice. Each time they flapped their wings they created reflections which created the northern lights.

ANCIENT TIMES most people were afraid of the lights. Children would be brought inside when the mystifying flames of the auroras spread across the heavens, for the lights could descend and cut their heads off. Thus, in many places northern lights were a threat to people's lives and health. Nordic countries thought the northern lights were a vengeful force which killed those who mocked it. The mythological role of the aurora was important in religion. Many believed it a message from the creator. Flaming auroras reminded people that their creator still cared for them. An old tale from the Nordic countries said that, "God is angry when the aurora flames." It was a common interpretation during medieval times that northern lights were an omen of war, or disasters or plagues.

ROMANS believe "Aurora" was the goddess of the dawn. Many cultural groups thought of them as harbingers of war or famine.

MAORI OF New Zealand shared a belief with many northern people of Europe and North America that the Southern Lights were reflections from torches or campfires.

MENOMINEE INDIANS OF WISCONSIN believed the lights indicated the location of manabai'wok (giants) who were the spirits of great hunters and fishermen.

INUIT OF ALASKA believed the lights were the spirits of animals they hunted: seals, salmon, deer and beluga whales.

OTHER ABORIGINAL PEOPLE believed that the lights were the spirits of their people.

CHINESE believed that the northern lights were fighting dragons (good/evil).

(If you can ever afford to go and see the Northern Lights it's worth every cent. I lived up North in British Columbia and often watched them for hours. Each night you watched different dancing colors and they are magical.)