Mythology · 02

The Aurora

The aurora was the dance of the sky — green, blue and violet veils that blazed across the dark heavens. In Finnish folklore they were born when the fire-fox ran across the fells and swept the snowdrifts with its tail.

MythologyWhat the old tales tell

A light would sometimes appear in the northern night sky that no one knew. It blazed green, blue and violet, moved like a veil and vanished as suddenly as it had come. A person who did not know what it was stood in the freezing cold and felt fear and wonder intertwined. It was the sky's own phenomenon, and it could not be touched.

The tale tells of a fire-fox that ran across the fell slope and swept the snowdrifts with its tail. Sparks flew from the snow to the sky, and from them the aurora was born. The word derives from 'repo' — an old name for the fox. The fox was swift, cunning and master of the dark — exactly the kind that could light the sky.

Pixel art: the fire-fox, a mythical fox whose tail gives birth to the aurora — The fire-fox — the fox that lit the sky

Pixel art: the star of the aurora sparkles on snow — The star of the aurora

Every fox hunter dreamed of the fire-fox. According to the tales, whoever caught it would receive immeasurable riches. But the fox was faster than a human, and its tracks led ever deeper into the fell, where snow covered all boundaries and darkness devoured footprints.

The aurora had other explanations too. In many beliefs they were the souls of the dead wandering the sky before entering Tuonela. It was said that souls carried light with them, and their movements in the sky were signs from the otherworld. To others they were the sky's own fire, warning or blessing.

The Sámi revered the aurora so deeply that it was not fitting to mock or whistle at it. It was believed that whistling might call the lights down, and they might carry the mocker away with them. The aurora heard everything, and before it one had to be silent and humble.

Pixel art: a figure gazes at the aurora in the sky — The aurora was not to be mocked

Omens were read from the aurora. If they danced bright and high, the coming year would bring good fortune. If they were red and low, it might be a sign of war, plague or death. A fisherman looked at them and knew whether to go to the lake in the morning. A hunter knew whether he would get the bear.

Pixel art: a starry Lapland night over snowy fells — A night in Lapland

Pixel art: starry sky glimmers above the snow — The starry sky before the Mist

In the game worldHow this appears in Sammuneet Revontulet

The game's title Sammuneet Revontulet refers to the central catastrophe: the Mother-Fox has vanished, and the auroras have gone out. The sky has been dark for years.

The player's task is to find 10 fire-fox cubs. When they unite their power, the Mother-Fox awakens and the auroras light up again.

Vaski, the old magic cauldron, longs to see the auroras more than anything else. He recognises their warmth in his 'old iron'.