The Aurora, also known as Aurora Borealis or Aurora Australis, depending on location, is a spectacular light phenomenon. It is a mesmerizing array of colors too beautiful to put into words if one has the chance to see it. So mesmerizing, in fact, it has caused quite a stir in history.
What Is an Aurora?
An aurora is a natural phenomenon. It is characterized by wonderful luminous displays in the sky, and it is typically observed in the higher latitudes. Without getting too deep into the science behind it, these lights are produced in the upper atmosphere when energetic particles, guided toward the polar regions by Earth’s magnetic field, interact with atmospheric atoms and molecules.
The phenomenon is typically known by these geographical names:
Aurora Borealis: refers to auroras seen in and around the Northern Hemisphere’s polar region. It is also commonly known as the Northern Lights.
Aurora Australis refers to the equivalent phenomenon surrounding the southern polar region. It is also commonly known as the Southern Lights.
Even though they can be called these separate names, both the Aurora Borealis and Aurora Australis are manifestations of the same underlying physical processes.
Now, we are going to move onto stories and folklore. If you want the scientific details, there are many wonderful books and articles on exactly that.
Where Do the Names Aurora Borealis and Aurora Australis Come From?
The word aurora comes from the Latin word for “dawn.” It is also the name of the Roman goddess of dawn. This is a fairly good starting point for our exploration into the subject.
Now, in Latin, “borealis” refers to a northern direction. So, you could guess that “australis” refers to the south.
Put the two together, and you get the Neo-Latin term aurora borealis: northern dawn. The term is not an “organic” construction in the sense that it doesn’t come from the actual Ancient Romans.
So, who came up with the name? Well, that is a rather more complicated question than one might assume. Pierre Gassendi is commonly said to have named the phenomenon following his observation of an aurora in 1621. However, more recent historical scholarship has identified an earlier published usage in a 1619 work attributed at least in part, and likely in full, to Galileo Galilei.
However, there have been sightings well before the name “aurora borealis” and “aurora australis” were in use.
One such event in France in 1583 saw a mass of people, peasants and noble alike, rushing to Paris to offer prayers and make offerings in church. Even further back, a Roman writer, Pliny, is believed to have written about the aurora, likening it to “daylight in the night.” Some have seen this as one of the earliest possible descriptions of an aurora. However, it is not entirely certain if he was indeed writing about an aurora. Though, it seems rather likely he was.
Northern Lights Myths and Legends
Perhaps a significant majority of aurora narratives known today are said to originate from Arctic communities. However, there is a large range of traditions. For instance, we’ve already touched on France and Roman stories. That said, there is no “singular” interpretation, as they have been shaped by location, the frequency with which the lights were observed, and specific, contextual spiritual, cultural, and social circumstances of the respective communities.
In Finland, the Northern Lights may be known as “revontulet”, which is typically translated as “fox fires.” Classic folklore from the region describes a quick fox sprinting across the snow, sending beautiful sparks straight into the sky.
Associations with warriors and spirits is also not uncommon in other parts of Northern Europe. However, they can vary quite a lot in the specifics.
In some Sámi tales, the aurora held in a certain cautious regard or respect, and many were discouraged from drawing its attention.
Per the University of Alaska Fairbanks, educational material developed with Iñupiaq cultural and language partners notes a tradition in which the Northern Lights are connected with ancestral spirits. One Iñupiaq account describes the spirits as playing a ball game in the sky. Others describe dances and other games.
In another account, one from the 20th-century, records a Labrador Inuit description of auroral lights as torches associated with spirits and the journey of departed souls. Interestingly, that account also links the lights with spirits playing a game involving a walrus skull, kicking it like it’s a ball.
Other communities maintained their own interpretations and customs.
Māori Traditions and the Aurora Australis
Like with the Northern Lights, there are various cultural interpretations of the Southern Lights have. Some of the most well known come from Māori Traditions.
Some noted Māori traditions associate the lights with fires and ancestors who had journeyed farther south. Another, similarly, described the aurora as a great fire lit by ancestors in southern lands.
Rakiura, the Māori name for Stewart Island, is commonly translated as “glowing skies.” One explanation, per Te Ara, the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, states that the name might be referring to the Aurora Australis. Another possibility is that it refers to southern sunsets, which may be fiery and gorgeous.
Can You Hear the Aurora Borealis?
This question comes from numerous stories and accounts of people reporting to hear sounds along with the aurora. These sounds have been described in numerous ways, such as faint crackling, buzzing, humming, or popping. Some have even said it sounds like hissing if the aurora is particularly intense. For a rather long time, this was met with a lot of skepticism. A rather common explanation was auditory illusions or old folk stories, especially since such a sound would have to be loud and would take a significant amount of time to reach Earth. However, recent studies have shown there is indeed a crackling sound that can occur over 200ft above the Earth’s surface.
Aurora’s Mystery
Folk stories are great. They offer so many different views into the world of our ancestors. The aurora remains such a genuinely fascinating display, even with all the scientific explanations surrounding it. Really, the legends almost don’t seem to do it justice. If you see it for yourself, you will see why.