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"During the time when taboos were strictly adhered to, the first day that the
Sun came out was marked by the belief that the whole community must start a new
life, so the children of the camp would go to each household to blow out the
flames of the qulliq. After the lamps had been extinguished the old wicks were removed and a new wick set in place and then the lamp would be relit. In order to begin life anew, the children of the camp including myself, would run to each of the dwellings hoping that we would be the first to blow out the lamps before others did. So this was how the first day of the Sun was observed."
"I know that when the Sun was seen for the first time in the season the occasion would be observed. In these days the only way to start a fire was with flint and stones, kasuk. A bag containing material for lighting the fire along with a flint and a small piece of stone would be prepared well in advance ... ... Smouldering embers placed on dry plant material would be blown on to start the new fire. From here the whole village would come and get their fire to relight their qullit. So from this single source all the qullit in the village would be relit. Only from this new fire could the others relight their qullit. So people were thus renewed and it was said that the Sun would be warmer in the coming spring ..." (Actic Sky) |