In 1619, Galileo named this solar phenomenon Aurora, after the goddess of dawn.
Away from any light pollution, under a dark sky, a nebulous veil appears. Green, purple or red, this veil carries you into another world, piercing through the atmosphere to dazzle you. It is the beginning of a graceful dance with the skies, composed of countless atmospheric arabesques. Captivating and enchanting, it is a truly spellbinding sight.
Spiritual minds will say it is a message sent from beyond, while the more scientifically-minded will speak of a solar phenomenon. Whatever the interpretation, the aurora unites people around one shared impression: its magnificence.
Its movement seems orchestrated by divine magic, its beauty heightened by celestial mystery. At once reassuring and unsettling, it envelops the immensity of the sky beneath its luminous vault, lighting the way for the lost pilgrim through the polar night.
This immersive spectacle across the vast northern wilderness is anticipated, feared, watched and experienced — sending shivers through the soul that no photograph could ever capture.
At the root of numerous myths and legends, the aurora has fascinated humankind for millennia. Some Inuit peoples identify it as “the dance of the spirits of the dead”. For the Irish, it eases the pains of childbirth. In Greenland, it represents the spirits of children who died in childbirth dancing across the sky, while the Vikings associated it with the last breath of soldiers fallen in battle.
Found mainly at the poles and radiating outward, the aurora borealis appears in countries such as Finland, Greenland, Norway, Alaska, and Canada. The aurora australis, on the other hand, unfolds over New Zealand, Tasmania (and beyond).
A genuine motivation for a journey to the far north or south, it is an opportunity to set off toward hemispheric destinations and encounter the soul, as if on an initiatory journey.
The beyond and all its particularities will never cease to intrigue and surprise humankind. This is why the magic of the aurora lies in the unique combination of scientific, visual and cultural factors that make this natural phenomenon such an extraordinary, almost mystical spectacle.
Take advantage of the current intense solar activity — set to continue over the next 18 months — to experience this moment of intensity.
Feel free to contact Bénédicte, our Nordic countries specialist, who will be happy to share her own experience of the aurora.
Attentive to your needs, she will provide you with all the necessary information and arrange this trip for you, including international flights from your place of residence and any other service essential to its smooth running.
