Return Of The Sun (2023)

The sun returned to Arctic Bay on February 5, 2023.  The moment was a sight to behold, even though it happens every year.  A very tiny portion of the sun rose above the mountains just south of the community and showered it with bright rays of light.  The temperature was still cold but that didn’t matter.  Dark season was officially over.  The sun only stayed up for around twenty minutes, I think, and then descended behind the mountains.  From now on, the sun will be visible for an additional 20 minutes every passing day until it’ll be 24-hour daylight in May. 

Inuujaq School held its annual Return of the Sun celebration on February 7.  Everyone assembled in the gym and the assembly began at 2:20pm.

The principal did a brief welcome address and invited the Grade 4 teacher to light the ceremonial qulliq lamp to signal the start of the celebration.  When the lamp was lit, the Grade 2 class performed a few Inuit songs and played the Inuit drum.  The kindergarten class followed with their own performance of a few Inuit songs.

The principal invited the sun to come to the front of the gym.  He added the sun had come from Pond Inlet to pay everyone a visit.  I should probably explain before I go any further. 

The people in Pond Inlet also celebrate the return of the sun and the end of dark season.  Someone there designed & made an Inuit themed sun costume, complete with polar bear pants, colourful parka, and a large bright sun mask.  Inuujaq School’s Events Committee was made aware of the costume when a local Parks Canada employee attended a meeting, expressing interest in participating in the assembly.  He wanted to give out Parks Canada swag, but also mentioned he could get us the sun costume, thanks to his connections in Pond Inlet.  We could borrow the costume for the assembly, but he was obligated to return it right away.

A high school student volunteered to wear the costume.  Everyone was surprised to see the sun enter the gym.  The sun stood in front of everyone while the principal invited classes to take group photos.  Many children wondered who was behind the mask.  School staff were the last group to have their picture taken with the sun.

The Parks Canada employee continued the ceremony by drawing one name from each class to receive a small prize.  The employee and the sun left the gym at the end of the draw.  They were both applauded.

The principal thanked everyone for attending the assembly and instructed classes to calmly file out of the gym and return to their classrooms.  I went to check on the high school student who played the sun.  He took off the costume inside the gym equipment room.  I asked him how it felt to wear the costume and he replied it was hot inside.  This answer reminded me of all the Halloween masks I’ve worn in the past. 

I should point out that this is the first time I’ve seen an Inuit sun costume being used at a Return of the Sun celebration at Inuujaq School since I arrived in the community in 2013.  Maybe it’ll inspire the culture classes to make one for next year.

Now that the sun is here, cases of seasonal affective disorder (SAD) should decrease substantially.  I won’t need to take so many vitamin D pills every morning.  And then, in a few weeks, everyone in town will get annoyed with the sun because the constant sunlight will make it difficult to fall asleep.  Bring out the blackout curtains and tinfoil!