Noridc and Scandinavian Folklore is rife with creatures, good and evil, which have frightened
people for centuries.
They were primarily created to scare children, whether to lure them away from evil, or dangerous
places.
However, regardless of their origin, they have lingered with folks for years, being
passed along from generation to generation.
So today on Top 5 Scary Videos, I’m going to be counting down our list of the Top 5
Norwegian Urban Legends.
5 Huldra Also known as Hulder, these are seductive
forest creatures found in Scandinavian folklore.
Huldra derives from a root meaning “covered” or “secret” and is often depicted as just
one individual, however, through folklore it has changed to an entire Hulder race and
not just one single individual.
Huldra is described as being a troll-like woman living in the woods, and is known to
be fair and beautiful, but wild and is known to have long hair which she hides behind her
back upon meeting a human.
This legend goes that Adam and Eve had a handful of children, and one day when Eve was giving
her children a bath, God came to visit her.
However, Eve had not yet bathed all her children so she hid the ones that were dirty.
God asked her, “Are there not more children?”
Ever said no.
So, God responded, “Then let all that is hidden, remain hidden,” and thus the ones
hidden became De Underjoriske which means, the ones living underground.
The hidden children became lost souls under the surface of the earth, calling for someone
to be with them, usually human passersby, Huldra was one of these children, yet somehow
managed to remain on the surface of the earth.
Be warned, she is neither good nor evil and can not be trusted.
4 Jotne Also known as Jotunn, or Jotnar, this legend
is described as being a type of entity contrasted with Gods and other figures such as dwarfs
and elves.
In Norse mythology, Jotne appears as a giant being, often ugly and lumpy, with many of
them in possession of great knowledge.
Often times the Jotne is described as riding on a wolf with vipers as reins, and is believed
to be depicted in this 10th-century picture stone from the Hunnestad Monument.
*INSERT PIC* As I previously stated, most Jotne possess
great wisdom, for example, Vavtrudne, who is clad with the very knowledge as Odin.
Legend goes that the Jotne are the God Thor’s most dangerous opponent, and is a major motif
in Norse Mythology, with the Jotne residing in the great mountain area of Southern Norway.
Now, throughout history, the folklore as become blurred, with some stories blending Jotne
and Trolls together into one, but that is simply not the case.
With these two legends having very separate histories throughout folklore.
And that’s the tea.
3 Fossegrimen Simply known as Grim, this is water spirit
or Troll in Scandinavian Folklore.
This water spirit plays the fiddle and is described as being exceptionally talented,
with the sounds of forest, wind and water playing over his fiddle strings.
He is a young, handsome man who sits naked under waterfalls, playing mostly the music
of nature.
Grim is said to be willing to teach his fiddle skills in exchange for a food offering made
on a Thursday evening and in secrecy.
The offerings he accepts is a white goat thrown with head turned away into a waterfall that
flows northwards, smoked mutton stolen from the neighbor’s storage four Thursdays in
a row.
However, if there is not enough meat on the bone, he will only teach those seeking the
skill how to tune the fiddle.
However, if the offering is satisfactory, he will take the students right hand and draw
the fingers along the strings until they all bleed, but after that time the student will
be able to play so well that, I quote, “the trees shall dance and torrents in their fall
stand still.”
It is rumoured that Torgeir Augundsson, better known as Myllarguten, was a famous fiddle-player
from Telemark, Norway, who was so good at the fiddle that he was believed to have sold
his soul in exchange for Grim’s skills.
2 Nokken Nokken is the Norwegian name for a specific
type of water spirit, also known as the Nack, or Nykr.
The Nokken are supposedly able to shape shift but are more commonly known as male water
spirits who lure women and children to their deaths usually their enchanted violin.
This most commonly occurs at Christmas or on Midsummer’s Eve, with the Nokken targeting
pregnant women or children that had yet to be baptized.
Now, it’s not easy to describe the appearance of the Nokken, due to its tendency to shapeshift,
however, reports have stated that he is a rather elegant man, often times lurking inside
the waterfall.
However, sometimes he has been depicted as a Brook Horse.
Be warned, the Nokken will become unhappy if he does not have access to water, with
tales emerging of one spirit who went to live with a human after they had fallen in love,
but was unable to stay due to their deep yearning to be by the water.
So, if you ever find yourself lured in by the Nokken, just drain that waterfall and
run.
Easy enough, right?
However, don’t fret too much, with most crediting this legend as a manifestation of
the dangers associated with water.
1 Trolls I mean, of course, Trolls are the primary
legend in all of Scandinavia, and are a call of being Nore mythology and folklore.
Old Norse history describe Trolls as beings that dwell in isolated rocks, mountains, or
caves, and live together in small family units, that are rarely useful to human beings.
Now, Trolls are said to be inspired by the cruel giants who were the primary enemies
of the Gods who lived in the mountains of Utgard.
They are said to have human like appearance, but they are incredibly big and ugly, no shame
just facts.
Now, like all legends it varies from source to source, with some trolls being dim-witted,
some have no particular grotesque characteristics, to other being dangerous to human beings.
Now, although some are described as man-eaters and as turning to stone upon contact with
the sun, trolls are also attested as being solitary beings, living far away from civilization.
Upon the arrival of Christianity around the 1300s, the stories began to change, with stories
emerging of the Trolls being able to smell the blood of a Christian man, with them basically
representing anything of the old times, which the new religion condemned.