Stories From The Arctic: Sun, Moon & Northern Star

The Sun was not just light; she was a mother, giver of life, a promise that warmth would return. The Moon was not just a lantern; he was a wanderer, a keeper of secrets, a guardian of tides within and without. And the Northern Star? the one light that never fled, never faltered, never forgot you.

Let yourself be held by the sky.
Let the stories do what stories have always done.
Find you. Remind you. Bring you home.

Transcript

Tjerva! Here is some Etollchi folklore and history from the Sámi. Chapter 2. Gods and Goddesses They were the sun goddess. Back in the day, Most of the Sámi were fishermen and hunters, Reindeer herders. The sun was one of the most important deities in the Sámi culture, Because during winter in Lapland, The sun does not come out, The darkness lasts several months, And even those who don't know reflects the moonlight, It still affects people's mental health and well-being. People greatly missed the sun during the long winter months. And the sun was in its human form, It was called veve or bevi, Meaning sun, At the day, And njeda, Maiden, The sun maiden. Veve was connected to spring and fertility, Her sacred animal was the white reindeer. During the summer, Solstice people made sunwheels from twigs, Flowers and leaves and hung them in the trees. Veve was connected to the fertility of the earth and the well-being of plants, Flowers and animals. The sun frequently appears in the center of Sámi shaman drums, Typically depicted as a painted circle or diamond shape. The points of the diamond represent the four directions, Symbolizing that the sun shines in every direction. A road is illustrated leading towards the sun, Representing the people's prayers for the sun maiden. It is through this same road that warmth and light reach the earth. In the midwinter ritual, There was a custom to sacrifice white animals to veve, To welcome back the sun. If no white animals were available, Animals with white ribbons attached to their ears were sacrificed. Another tradition that was part of the ritual was to light fires that represented the sun. There was a custom to sprinkle fat on the door edges, Which the sun would quote-unquote eat and become stronger before returning to the sky after its long rest. Sámi made animal sacrifices during winter, Otherwise that would have been impolite because flames might have shone brighter than the sun. In the Lapland of Sweden, There was a custom to bake sun cakes from reindeer blood. Sámi hung these cakes in the trees and left them for the sun to eat. In the Lapland of Norway, Sámi left sacrificial porridge for the sun. These sacrifices were made to ensure that reindeer would stay healthy, So predators would not get them, And to cure sicknesses. In February, There was a custom for people to gather into groups and walk to the ice to watch the first glimpses of the sun, After long dark months. Sun was greeted by bowing, This is a custom that was also practiced by several Finno-Ugric and Baltic tribes. In Sámi mythology, Three goddesses are connected to spring. Sometimes these goddesses are seen as aspects of Beiwe, And sometimes they are portrayed as three different individuals. Salaneita was a female spirit who had the power to order snow and freezing air to leave, So she could bring the spring with her. Rannaneita, Also known as Rannaniete, Rannaneida and Aradienneito, Was the goddess of the earth. Her name means green fields and green grounds. She made the flowers and the herbs grow, And turned mountains green in the summer. Rannaneita belongs to the Aradian spirits family, A group of Sámi deities that have power over human lives. Servietni was the third goddess in the group. She was one of the spring maidens bringing new life with her. In Sámi shaman drums, The sun, The moon and the stars are common motives. The Sámi painted the sun into the middle of the drum in heliocentric drums. Sámi drums are pretty exceptional when it comes to shaman drums. In different cultures, Drums where the skin is completely decorated with patterns are unusual and can only be found in the Sámi and among some tribes in Siberia who speak Samoyedi languages. The moon. When the sun was described as feminine, The moon in the Sámi myths was described as masculine. Since there was very little daylight, Winter was considered a suspicious time to many evil spirits wandering among the living. Mannu, The moon, Being one of them. People thought that Mannu was a very suspicious spirit. Why did he come out to the skies in the night when all nature was asleep? Older stories described the moon more as a magical and mysterious spirit. Later, With more influences from Christianity, The moon got a lousy reputation and features from the Christian devil. Numerous beliefs were related to the moon. The Sámi were skilled astrologers who could determine the optimal time to go hunting and fishing based on the moon's position. One of the most widespread myths was that a troll ate the moon in the sky during an eclipse. Another version of the eclipse claimed that a thief had painted the moon black to prevent moonlight from exposing him, As he committed all his terrible actions during the night. One of the traditions that was part of the winter solstice ritual was to light fires that represented the sun. There was a custom to sprinkle fat on the door edges for the moon, And there was also a custom to sacrifice hay to the moon. A custom can refer to the older totemic belief that there might have been some animal spirits who lived on the moon. Sámi believed December to be the month when evil spirits were wandering around, And the moon was described as their leader. People were careful not to irritate the moon. During December, People did not like to stay outside for long periods of time. Women were not allowed to do loud chores like chopping firewood, And were careful not to gossip or laugh. When the sun was returning in February, People gathered outside under the full moon. They had pants and drums with them, And they made loud noises to distract the moon. They told him to go away so that the sun could return. The battle between the sun and the moon can be found in many myths and stories worldwide. Suspicion towards the moon comes from people's fear of the night and darkness. During the time without electric lights, When people did not know much about the surrounding world, It was easy to let one's imagination run wild and imagine all kinds of dangers waiting in the dark. The turning of the sun was a promise of hope. The Holy Moon Basse Aske, The Holy Moon was important in the Sámi folklore. It is the moon that rises around the winter solstice. It was best to be careful during the darkest time of the year, For all kinds of evil spirits were flying around trying to trick people. Works had to be finished even in December. Moonlight allowed people to travel during the night. There was a belief that during the night, The moon was riding in the sky in a sleigh pulled by a reindeer. Circles around the moon were used to predict weather. Usually the circles meant cold and frosty nights. People carved circles from wood and hung them outside tents and houses. This was done to honor the Holy Moon. Moon rays would shine through the circles. People hoped that the moon would be kind and make people's lives simpler, Not harder. Food sacrifices for the moon were hanged in the trees. In some areas, Young reindeer were sacrificed for the moon. Hay was also sacrificed. These rituals were made to guarantee the well-being of the newly born reindeer. The moon eclipse was a frightening event. People made lots of noise and tried to chase evil spirits away from the moon. Northern Star and Venus Quite early on the Sámi noticed that, Unlike many other stars, The Northern Star remained still, Giving it an aura of mystery. There are many Sámi stories told about the Northern Star. Some people believed the world to be an island floating in the great sea, An acronym for space. The world was held together by a pillar. In some stories, The pillar is the world tree. At the top of the pillar was the Northern Star, Holding the world in its place, And all the other stars were dancing around it. There was a tradition to carve a pillar that represented the world tree. These pillars were placed on two sides of the Seita. There is one in northern Norway, In the area of Orsaker. The pillar also works as a symbol for people to reach their higher goals. Another significant celestial body was Venus. The Sámi word for Venus, Kuo vussu, Means dusk. People believed that Venus was second in command after the Sun. When Venus disappeared from the sky, Dark forces took over, And trolls, Evil spirits, And other night creatures emerged. However, When Venus rose again in the morning, The world was considered safe once more. Venus also has a presence in shaman drums.