Photo by Arctic Reindeer Tromsø
The Northern Lights: science, myths, and legends
As darkness descends over the Arctic sky, a mysterious dance begins. Ribbons of light in ethereal greens and purples weave across the heavens, shimmering like silk curtains caught in a celestial breeze.
These are the Northern Lights – and people have been trying to crack the mystery about this magnificent display for ages, and their theories are anything but boring. To name a few, the mighty Vikings thought it was a glowing welcome sign to Valhalla. And in ancient China, couples were convinced that under those shimmering skies, they weren’t just making love—they were making legends.
From the earliest cave paintings etched 30,000 years ago to today's scientific observations, the aurora borealis continues to captivate all who witness its wonder – and as you're about to discover, the stories behind this celestial light show are just as colorful as the lights themselves.
What are the Northern Lights?
What our ancestors once attributed to gods and spirits, we now understand as one of nature's most spectacular performances.
When the sun hurls charged particles toward Earth, they collide with our planet's atmosphere in a cosmic dance that illuminates the night sky. Like an artist's palette, different gases in our atmosphere create distinct colors: oxygen paints the sky in vibrant greens and deep reds, while nitrogen adds strokes of blue and purple to the celestial canvas.
Yet this scientific understanding, rather than diminishing the aurora's magic, adds another layer to its endless mystery.
Photo by Bob Engelsen
Valkyries' bridge
For the Norse people, the Northern Lights weren’t just a beautiful sight—they were a sign of something far greater.
Photo by Foap | Visit Norway
According to legend, the flickering glow came from the Valkyries’ armor, gleaming as they thundered across the sky on horseback, searching for fallen warriors worthy of Valhalla. Some believed the aurora was the reflection of their shields and spears, while others saw it as Bifrost, the rainbow bridge guiding the brave to Odin’s great hall.
Whenever the lights blazed overhead, Vikings celebrated, knowing their heroes were being welcomed into eternal glory.
Video by Tim Oksanen
Ancient warnings
While Vikings celebrated the lights, the indigenous Sami people of Arctic Scandinavia approached them with reverent fear.
Photo by Tromsø Arctic Reindeer
They called the aurora "Guovssahas," believing it to be a bridge between our world and the realm of spirits. In hushed voices, they passed down warnings through generations: never whistle at the lights, lest you catch their attention.
Parents would hurry their children indoors when the sky began to glow, for legend told that the lights could reach down and snatch away those who failed to show proper respect.
Photo by NTC
Nordic tales
The Northern Lights also hold a significant place in the folklore of other Nordic countries. Deep in the snow-covered landscapes, Finland and Sweden have cultivated their own enchanting interpretations of the aurora.
Photo by Bob Engelsen
In Finland, the lights are known as "revontulet" – the fire fox. Their folklore tells of magical Arctic foxes racing through the mountains with such speed and power that their bushy tails sweep sparks into the night sky.
These sparks, caught by the crisp winter air, burst into the magnificent light show we know as the aurora.
Another version of the tale suggests these mystical foxes swept snowflakes skyward with their tails, creating ethereal displays when the flakes caught the moonlight.
Photo by Håkon Daae Brensholm | Visit Svalbard
The Swedish folklore brings its own maritime twist to the aurora's tale. Along the coastal regions, fishermen developed a unique relationship with the dancing lights.
They viewed the celestial display as a promising sign – a reflection of vast herring shoals swimming in heavenly seas. The patterns and movements of the aurora were carefully observed, believed to mirror the movements of fish below the ocean's surface.
These lights became nature's fishing forecast, guiding the fishermen to bountiful catches and securing their livelihood in the harsh northern waters.
Photo by Carl Filip Olsson
The Northern Lights’ steamy secret
While most cultures viewed the Northern Lights as spirits dancing or omens flickering across the sky, Chinese folklore cranked up the heat.
Photo by Thomas Rasmus Skaug | Visit Norway
Their take? The aurora isn’t just a celestial spectacle—it is nature’s ultimate baby-making boost.
According to legend, couples who got frisky under those shimmering lights weren’t just in for a good time; they were practically guaranteeing themselves genetic jackpot winners. We’re talking beauty, brains, and enough good fortune to make a fortune cookie jealous.
Basically, the universe was serving up the greatest celestial green light in history. So if you ever find yourself under that glowing sky… well, don’t just stand there—shoot your shot.
Photo by Alex Conu | Visit Norway
The eternal wonder
We know the aurora is caused by solar winds colliding with Earth's atmosphere—but knowing how doesn’t make it any less mesmerizing. In many ways, we find ourselves at the crossroads of science and myth, where facts explain the phenomenon, but legends keep the wonder alive.
Whether you're tracking solar winds or just trying to win in the genetic lottery, the old stories add something science can’t quantify: meaning, mystery, and a touch of magic.
They remind us that some things are best experienced, not just understood—a phenomenon that still blurs the line between knowledge and wonder, between science and myth.
Video by Timo Oksanen
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