Most Eskimo legends are dealing with nature, animals and world around them. There are a few versions about the origin of the Sun, Moon and the stars. Once, when everything was still dark, a girl was visited by unknown man every single night. She wanted to find out who he was, so she used oils and soot to mark him. She found out the man was her own brother.
Their parents were angry on them, and her brother flew away. The girl was chasing him carrying a burning branch in her hand. Her brother became the Moon, and she gave birth to a torch and became the Sun, still chasing him. All sparkles from the torch became stars.
The common theme in different Inuit legends are amazingly looking Northern Lights. According to one, people used to communicate with friendly giants living up there on north once, but they cannot see them any more. Anyway, those giants are very good fishermen and even better hunters. They carry large torches, and their glow can be seen from afar.
Other story trying to explain the origin of Northern Lights say that there is a narrow passage leading to Eskimo heaven. Dead souls have to pass there to get to the place, and Spirits are their guides. Spirits carry shiny torches, traveling across the sky, and you can see this glow. Raven is the only living creature able to go there by himself.
Two friends wanted to find out how big the world is. They lived with their wives, all together, and decided to go in opposite directions to measure the world. Their wives were not so excited about it, but they went with their husbands. Time passed, the children were born and grew up, and they were still traveling. The ice seemed to be endless.
Both men became very old, and they couldn't manage their sleighs. In the meantime, each couple had so many descendants that they formed a large tribe. Finally, they came back and two friends met each other again. They both agreed that the world is really big, much bigger than they imagined. When they came to this conclusion, they both died.
A legend about whale and eagle husbands. Playing on the beach one day, two girls found the bones of an eagle and a whale, and decided to marry them. One girl was abducted by an eagle, who took her to the top of the mountain, and the other girl whale captured at the bottom of the sea. They both wanted to return to their homes, but it was hard to escape.
Using all kinds of feathers her husband was bringing to his nest, the first girl made a very long rope. In time, the rope was long enough for her to escape, and her brothers helped her. Her husband eagle was killed by her brothers. Other girl also escaped from her husband, the whale. He tried to catch her, but he failed. In the end, all that remained from her husband was a little whale bone on the beach. There are numerous other Eskimo legends.
Their parents were angry on them, and her brother flew away. The girl was chasing him carrying a burning branch in her hand. Her brother became the Moon, and she gave birth to a torch and became the Sun, still chasing him. All sparkles from the torch became stars.
The common theme in different Inuit legends are amazingly looking Northern Lights. According to one, people used to communicate with friendly giants living up there on north once, but they cannot see them any more. Anyway, those giants are very good fishermen and even better hunters. They carry large torches, and their glow can be seen from afar.
Other story trying to explain the origin of Northern Lights say that there is a narrow passage leading to Eskimo heaven. Dead souls have to pass there to get to the place, and Spirits are their guides. Spirits carry shiny torches, traveling across the sky, and you can see this glow. Raven is the only living creature able to go there by himself.
Two friends wanted to find out how big the world is. They lived with their wives, all together, and decided to go in opposite directions to measure the world. Their wives were not so excited about it, but they went with their husbands. Time passed, the children were born and grew up, and they were still traveling. The ice seemed to be endless.
Both men became very old, and they couldn't manage their sleighs. In the meantime, each couple had so many descendants that they formed a large tribe. Finally, they came back and two friends met each other again. They both agreed that the world is really big, much bigger than they imagined. When they came to this conclusion, they both died.
A legend about whale and eagle husbands. Playing on the beach one day, two girls found the bones of an eagle and a whale, and decided to marry them. One girl was abducted by an eagle, who took her to the top of the mountain, and the other girl whale captured at the bottom of the sea. They both wanted to return to their homes, but it was hard to escape.
Using all kinds of feathers her husband was bringing to his nest, the first girl made a very long rope. In time, the rope was long enough for her to escape, and her brothers helped her. Her husband eagle was killed by her brothers. Other girl also escaped from her husband, the whale. He tried to catch her, but he failed. In the end, all that remained from her husband was a little whale bone on the beach. There are numerous other Eskimo legends.
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