Long before science explained the aurora, the peoples of the north wove rich legends around the dancing lights. In Finland and Sámi Lapland, those stories still colour the way the aurora is seen.
Here are some of the most beautiful.
The Finnish 'firefox'
The Finnish word for the aurora, revontulet, means 'fox fires'. Legend tells of an Arctic fox running across the fells, its tail sweeping snow into the sky or striking sparks that became the Northern Lights.
Sámi beliefs
For the Sámi, the indigenous people of Lapland, the lights were treated with deep respect — often linked to the spirits of the dead. Tradition held that you should not whistle, wave or taunt the aurora, lest it come down and take you.
Lights across cultures
Elsewhere in the north the aurora was seen as ancestors dancing, torches lighting the way for spirits, or omens of change. Nearly every culture under the oval built stories around it.
See it for yourself
Standing under a dancing aurora in Ruka, it's easy to feel why. Our guides share these legends around the campfire on aurora tours.