6 Fascinating Mythologies of Icelandic Folklore and Fairy Tales

6 Fascinating Mythologies of Icelandic Folklore and Fairy Tales

 

Iceland is one of the most amazing countries in Scandinavia with a rich culture and heritage quite well-known for its folklore and fairy tales. The Icelanders are regarded as one of the most civilized and humble people and are also known to be true believers of the supernatural beings. Here, it is important to note that the Icelandic world of folklore and fairy tales has its roots in the Nordic Viking traditions which have been passed down from one generation to the other, keeping the mythologies alive.

A reasonable amount of the Icelanders believe in Huldufolk that are the unseen people, often regarded as elves, who protect the land. This belief is so widespread throughout Iceland that if unexplained misadventure plagues a household or area, they consider that they must have angered the local elves, who must be consulted to find and correct the problem. But Huldufolk aren’t the only mythology associated with the Icelandic folklore and fairy tales.  To look at some of the others, as well as the Huldufolk, in this post I have compiled an interesting list of “6 Fascinating Mythologies of Icelandic Folklore and Fairy Tales”.

1.      The Trolls: While there are many stories of trolls throughout Iceland, a few are legendary.  The village of Vik in Iceland is famous for its three trolls that stand frozen in the ocean, which are known as the Trolls of Vik. Trolls are said to be large creatures who are huge in build and who dwell in isolated caves and mountains. Trolls are known to live together in family units and are not quite helpful to humans. Time and time again, the Scandinavian folklore shows that due to a huge difference between their eco-system with the human beings, trolls are considered to be dangerous to human beings.

2.     The Huldufolk: As discussed earlier, the Huldufolk are considered to be hidden people who are elves in the Icelandic folklore. They are believed to live in the rocks and are quite smaller in size as compared to the human beings. Their dislike of electricity or disruption to the natural landscape is quite famous all across Iceland and among the enthusiasts of Icelandic folklore.

3.      Alfhol: Throughout Iceland and in the Icelandic folklore, Alfhol are among one of the most commonly mentioned mythologies. Alfhol are small wooden houses where elves are supposed to live in. People in Iceland build themselves and place these houses all across the neighborhood to facilitate their local elves to keep them happy and avoid any unwanted happening. People also build small churches to lure the elves into converting to Christianity. Alfhol range from uniquely designed large homes to a lot simpler and smaller homes.

4.      Yule Lads: Yule Lads, also known as Yulemen, are figures from the Icelandic folklore who in the modern times are referred to as the Icelandic version of the Santa Claus. Yule lads are considered to be thirteen in number and their responsibilities are to put either rewards or punishments in the shoes placed by children on their window sills throughout the last thirteen nights before the Christmas Eve. Every night, one Yule Lad visit one child to either leave gifts or rotten potatoes in their shoes, depending on how they behaved throughout the year.

5.      The Icelandic Christmas:  The Icelandic Christmas runs from thirteen days before the Christmas Eve, then continues for thirteen days afterward. It starts each year on December 12^th, with the first Yule Lad, Sheep Cote Clod to visit.  Each day, another arrives until Christmas Eve, when all 13 are present.  Then, starting on December 25^th, they leave each day one at a time, with the departure of the last one coinciding with Three King’s Day, or January 6^th.

6.      Sea Monsters: Sea Monsters are known as skrimsli in Icelandic folklore who are believed to live in the sea according to many Icelanders. Being a part of Icelandic folklore and fairy tales, Sea Monsters are considered to be very dangerous and Icelanders feel reluctant to talk about them since they are afraid that people will not trust them. Sea Monsters are considered to live in very deep waters and in secrecy from the whole mankind.

 

 

 

Illustrations from the book "The Guardians of Iceland and other Icelandic Folk Tales" written by Heidi Herman, Illustrated by Michael DiGesu