The Polar Bear Who Loved the Sun

A long time ago, before people populated the earth, a little polar bear lived near the coast of Russia where the country borders on Finland. But he didn't live on land, he lived high up in the heavens above. That was his second home. When the sun shone, he lazed about happily in her rays.

Then one day, without warning, the sun suddenly disappeared. The little polar bear was furious because it suddenly grew cold and dark in the heavens. Our little white companion grew very grouchy. However, when he saw that the sun was still shining on earth, he decided to go down.

'I'm here to retrieve the sun,' he announced to the other animals.

'We won't give her to you,' said the Fox, trembling in shock. 'Without the sun, darkness and cold will reign over the earth again.'

'Well now it's dark and cold in the heavens,' grumbled the polar bear.

The animals decided to consult with each other. The discussion continued for days and still they could not reach an agreement.

On the eighth day, the wise raven spoke, 'All of us, my brothers and sisters, need the sun, as does this little polar bear. I suggest that the sun stays with us over summer. In the second half of the year she should go back to live in the heavens. This is during our winter when lots of animals hibernate anyway. That would be fair.'

And so it was decided.

Ever since then, in the far north, the day lasts a whole summer and the night a whole winter long.

The polar bear didn't ponder for long before he decided to join the other animals on earth on the coast of Russia right near the border of Finland. In winter, when the sun was up in the heavens, he slumbered in hibernation. For he had no need for the sun then. In summer, the sun returned to earth where the little polar bear lazed about and played with her sunbeams that tickled his nose.