Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Icelandic names for different shapes and colours of Northern lights

It is common belief that people living in the Arctic region have quite a few names for snow and other phenomena that are characteristic of a cold climate, but I wonder about the possible existence of words and expressions denoting different shapes of northern lights. Many names, not rarely poetic ones, exist for a great variety of fire-works (Roman candle, Catherine wheel,ect.) Could there be a hyperborean language up there in the far north that has similar names for one of nature's most spectacular phenomenon? I would be glad to find out, but for the moment I will try out a few myself.

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