Most Eskimo legends are about the origin of the world around them. One of the most popular ones is the legend about the Sun, Moon and stars. This is actually a story about a girl raped by her brother, back in time when the world was dark. The girl smeared oils and soot on her chest to find out who was raping her every night. She was shocked to find out that was her brother.
Although her brother denied, their parents were very angry, and so was his sister. He flew away to escape from her, and she took a branch from a fire and went after him. She chased him across the sky, until he became he Moon. Sparkles from her flame became stars. The girl was pregnant, and gave birth to a flaming torch, so she became the Sun. That's why the Sun is chasing the Moon.
There are several legends about Northern Light, or Aurora Borealis. Some Inuit tribes believe that friendly giants they once used to know still live up there, now invisible. They are very good hunters and fishermen. Their large, shiny torches can be seen from afar, as a Northern Light.
Another legend indicates that the spirits with torches lead the souls of their dead across the narrow passage to a place where they will always have plenty of food. Only dead souls and Raven can go that way. Northern Lights are actually lighted torches of these spirits who lead them.
There is also a story about two men who wanted to know how big the world is. Once upon a time, two couples lived in harmony. The men wanted to know how big the world is. Accompanied by his wives, they moved in the opposite directions. They traveled for a long time, years and years. With time, the children came, and then came grandchildren, and they were still traveling through the endless ice.
Over time, each pair formed a large tribe, and the men became so old that they could no longer manage their sleighs. Yet they were still traveling. Then, after long years of exhausting traveling, in the distance they saw the other tribe, and finally met with them. Before they died, both men agreed that the world is really big, much bigger than they thought.
A story about two girls who wanted to marry an eagle and a whale is another popular Inuit legend. Playing on a beach one day, these girls have found some bones. The girl who had an eagle bone have decided to marry an eagle, and the other one a whale. Both animals came and kidnapped the girls. An eagle flew on the top of his mountain, and other girl was taken to the bottom of the sea, to live there with their new husbands.
The girls were not happy there, and they have decided to escape. Eagles wife made a rope using feathers, and returned to her village. Another girl escaped as well. Their husbands tried to bring them back, but they failed. The eagle was killed by girl's brothers, and the whale was turned to a bone. Both eagles and whales are often found in Eskimo legends.
Although her brother denied, their parents were very angry, and so was his sister. He flew away to escape from her, and she took a branch from a fire and went after him. She chased him across the sky, until he became he Moon. Sparkles from her flame became stars. The girl was pregnant, and gave birth to a flaming torch, so she became the Sun. That's why the Sun is chasing the Moon.
There are several legends about Northern Light, or Aurora Borealis. Some Inuit tribes believe that friendly giants they once used to know still live up there, now invisible. They are very good hunters and fishermen. Their large, shiny torches can be seen from afar, as a Northern Light.
Another legend indicates that the spirits with torches lead the souls of their dead across the narrow passage to a place where they will always have plenty of food. Only dead souls and Raven can go that way. Northern Lights are actually lighted torches of these spirits who lead them.
There is also a story about two men who wanted to know how big the world is. Once upon a time, two couples lived in harmony. The men wanted to know how big the world is. Accompanied by his wives, they moved in the opposite directions. They traveled for a long time, years and years. With time, the children came, and then came grandchildren, and they were still traveling through the endless ice.
Over time, each pair formed a large tribe, and the men became so old that they could no longer manage their sleighs. Yet they were still traveling. Then, after long years of exhausting traveling, in the distance they saw the other tribe, and finally met with them. Before they died, both men agreed that the world is really big, much bigger than they thought.
A story about two girls who wanted to marry an eagle and a whale is another popular Inuit legend. Playing on a beach one day, these girls have found some bones. The girl who had an eagle bone have decided to marry an eagle, and the other one a whale. Both animals came and kidnapped the girls. An eagle flew on the top of his mountain, and other girl was taken to the bottom of the sea, to live there with their new husbands.
The girls were not happy there, and they have decided to escape. Eagles wife made a rope using feathers, and returned to her village. Another girl escaped as well. Their husbands tried to bring them back, but they failed. The eagle was killed by girl's brothers, and the whale was turned to a bone. Both eagles and whales are often found in Eskimo legends.
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