Long ago, when people believed in many gods and attributed natural events to the gods’ anger or gratitude, they pondered a great mystery. Their minds were captivated by an unusual light show in the sky. Because it appeared above the Arctic Circle, they called it the Northern Lights. People wondered what this unbelievable play of colors and light could mean. They puzzled over how it came to be and why it appeared in the northern sky.
In some northern lands, people believed the Northern Lights were a bridge connecting the world of humans with the realm of the gods. Those who wished to reach the gods in Valhalla had to cross this bridge. In Greenlandic mythology, the Northern Lights were said to be the souls of the dead playing with polar bears. In Canada, some believed the lights were fires lit by hunters to warm their hands and feet.
But not everyone believed these stories. Some were curious and wanted to learn the true secret of the Northern Lights. Among them were two brave adventurers, the brothers Erik and Frey. One day they decided to head north, to the place from which the aurora seemed to emanate. They wanted to discover what was hidden there and what it was like. They packed warm clothing, loaded a dog sled with supplies, and, with great courage and longing, set out into the unknown.
The journey was long and difficult. They had to cross vast snow-covered plains where freezing gales tested their resolve. They trekked through snowy forests, crossed deep chasms, and waded icy streams. When they reached a massive glacier, they had to leave their dogs behind and, carrying only what they could on their backs, set out across treacherous ice riddled with bottomless crevasses. They did not give up. They knew something wondrous awaited them at journey’s end.
After several days of travel, they reached a place where the sun no longer rose. There was only darkness and stars. And the Northern Lights. It was so beautiful that it took their breath away. They stopped and stared, mouths open. It was the most magnificent thing they had ever seen. It felt as if the lights were smiling at them, calling them closer.
Just then, an old man dressed in sealskin appeared beside them. His name was Ymir, and he was the chief of a tribe that had lived in this harsh land for centuries. “Where do you come from, and what are you seeking?” Ymir asked the brothers. “We want to learn how the Northern Lights are formed and why we can see them in our country. We’ve been traveling for nearly a month and hope we’re close,” Erik replied.
Amazed by their courage and perseverance, Ymir decided to tell them a story. “Perhaps a thousand years ago, our people wished to honor the gods who had given them wisdom, humility, and courage—three virtues that allowed them to survive in this unforgiving place. Out of gratitude, they decided to erect three statues to symbolize the gods and their gifts. But since there was nothing here but snow, they built snowmen. They put a torch in each one’s hand: the first burned blue for wisdom, the second green for humility, and the third red for courage. Our ancestors sat in a circle and gave thanks. Suddenly, the light from the flames rose higher and higher until it reached the sky. Then three stars fell from the heavens onto the snowmen, and they came to life. They told our ancestors that whenever times were at their worst, they would send their colored flames into the sky. Since then, when hardship comes, we see the Northern Lights—a reminder of wisdom, humility, and courage, qualities we have had since time immemorial that help us endure.”
Erik and Frey didn’t believe the old man. They liked the tale, but snowmen creating the Northern Lights? They even chuckled a little. “You don’t believe me? If you travel one more day north, you’ll find what you’re looking for,” Ymir said softly and slipped away.
The brothers continued north, though they were exhausted and nearly out of food. The next day, when they could go no farther, they sank down into the snow. Suddenly, not far away, they saw three figures. Looking more closely, they saw three snowmen. Could the old man have been right? The brothers drew near. It was true: each snowman held a torch—one blue, one green, one red. The colored flames climbed high into the sky, where they danced together in a glorious display. Erik and Frey had discovered the secret of the Northern Lights.
They were so worn out that they fell asleep while watching the shimmering sky. When they awoke, they were in Ymir’s tent. He told them they had been found almost completely frozen and that their lives had been saved just in time. Erik and Frey were so enchanted by this white land—and by the aurora and its secret—that they chose to remain. They became members of Ymir’s tribe and were happy there. And so the origin and meaning of the Northern Lights remained a mystery to the rest of the world. To this day, people explain the aurora in their own way.
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