Buzz
Scandinavian Folklore is filled with a myriad of beings, both benevolent and malevolent, that have haunted people for generations. These tales were often crafted to frighten children, yet they remain deeply significant to northern society today. During the 1890s, Scandinavians underwent a cultural shift, reconnecting with ancient myths and legends that had faded after the rise of Christianity. This era was marked by a growing fear of nature as industrialization advanced. The forests, mountains, and seas took on an eerie, mystical quality, leaving behind a legacy of spirits and monsters that reflect humanity's perception of the natural world.
10. Huldra
Huldra, known as Tallemaja in Swedish, is a forest-dwelling troll-like woman. She is strikingly beautiful yet untamed, with a long cow-tail she conceals when encountering humans. Legend has it that Adam and Eve had many children, and one day, while Eve was bathing them, God visited. Eve, having not finished cleaning all her children, hid the unwashed ones. When God asked if there were more children, Eve denied it. God then declared, “Let all that is hidden remain hidden,” and the hidden children became De Underjordiske—lost souls dwelling beneath the earth, luring humans to join them. Huldra, however, remained above ground. She is a flirtatious figure, neither entirely good nor evil.
9. Nisser
These creatures remain highly significant in contemporary culture. Unlike the Western image of Santa Claus—a rotund, bearded man residing at the North Pole—Scandinavian Christmas traditions feature the Nisse. Each household, particularly those in rural areas or farms, has its own Nisse, a guardian spirit living in the barn. Known for their mischievous nature, they can be easily won over with kindness. During the holiday season, they serve a role similar to Santa Claus in Western customs.
8. Dwarves/Elves
Popularized by J. R. R. Tolkien, dwarves and elves trace their origins to Norse Mythology. Dwarves resided in a secluded part of Midgard, inaccessible to humans. These diminutive beings, often depicted as small men with long beards, were skilled blacksmiths who crafted weapons, shields, and armor for the gods. Elves, on the other hand, inhabited Alvheim, a lush forest near the castle of Frøy, the fertility god. Known for their beauty and grace, elves were regarded as serene and benevolent beings.
7. Mare
The Mare is a female Vette known for causing bad dreams by sitting on people as they sleep. This figure is prevalent in Germanic folklore and takes on various forms. In Scandinavian languages, the term for nightmare reflects her influence: Norwegian – Mareritt, Danish – Mareridt, Swedish – Mardröm, which literally translate to Mare-ride and Mare-dream.
6. Fossegrimmen
Fossegrimmen, often simply called Grim (Foss meaning Waterfall in Norwegian), is a mystical water-being. Described as a youthful and attractive man, he sits naked beneath waterfalls, skillfully playing the fiddle. His music captures the essence of nature—flowing water, rustling leaves, and whispering winds. He imparts his musical knowledge to humans who offer him a stolen piece of meat in secret. Torgeir Augundsson (1801-1872), renowned as Myllarguten, was a celebrated fiddle player from Telemark, Norway, whose extraordinary talent fueled rumors that he had bargained his soul for Fossegrimmen’s abilities.
5. Troll
Trolls originate from Norse Mythology, modeled after the fearsome giants who opposed the gods. Known as jotner/jotuner/jötunn, they dwelled in the mountains of Utgard. Though humanoid in appearance, they are grotesquely ugly, enormous, and famously dim-witted. Tales describe various trolls inhabiting high mountain fortresses, stone-carved castles, dense forests, and coastal areas. With the advent of Christianity in the 1300s, the narratives shifted. Trolls could supposedly detect the blood of a Christian and symbolized the old ways condemned by the new religion. Additionally, exposure to sunlight would turn them to stone.
4. Nökken
Nökken, also known as Nyk or Nykkjen, is an enigmatic water-dwelling creature found in freshwater lakes and deep ponds. In Norwegian lore, he is depicted as a shadowy monster with only his eyes visible above the water, silently observing passersby. Swedish traditions portray him as a handsome young man who lures women to their watery demise. A master shapeshifter, he can transform into a white horse, enticing children to ride him before plunging them into his pond. Renowned for his musical talent, he plays the violin, his melodies echoing through villages at night. Protective measures include tossing a piece of metal, such as a needle or iron cross, into the water. If attacked, one could overpower him by chanting his name: “Nyk! Nyk! Naal i vatn. Jomfru Maria kastet styaal i vatn! Du sæk, æk flyt!”—a protective riddle meaning, “Nyk! Nyk! Needle in the water. The Virgin Mary threw steel in the water! You sink; I float!”
3. Valkyrie
In Norse mythology, valkyries are divine beings who decide the fate of warriors in battle, choosing who lives and who dies. They escort chosen slain warriors on horseback to Valhalla, Odin’s hall, where they become part of the einherjar, an elite group that trains by day and feasts by night. According to the Edda, a 13th-century text on Norse mythology by Snorri Sturluson, valkyries serve drinks to the fallen in Valhalla. However, older sources, closer to Viking beliefs, highlight their martial nature and their power over life and death. Viking poets often referred to them as “sword girls,” “spear maidens,” or “goddess of the spear/sword.”
2. Kraken
The Kraken is a creature widely recognized in popular culture, featured in films like Pirates of the Caribbean and Clash of the Titans. However, its origins lie in the icy waters of the Norwegian Sea, where sightings were first reported in the early 1700s. Danish writer and biologist Erik Pontoppidan provided the first detailed account in 1752. Early tales describe the Kraken as a colossal crab, large enough to be mistaken for an island, often leaving sailors stranded on its back. Later depictions portray it as a gigantic octopus capable of dragging entire ships into the ocean's depths.
1. Draugen
Draugen, derived from the Norse word “draugr,” meaning ghost, is a fearsome water entity you’d never wish to encounter while sailing. This spectral figure represents the spirit of a man who perished at sea. Towering and monstrous, draped in seaweed, he rows in a half-boat, emitting a horrifying scream upon his appearance. Legends say he emerges during stormy nights, drowning sailors, fishermen, and sinking their vessels. One tale recounts a man fleeing Draugen into a churchyard, pleading with the dead for protection. The next morning, graves lay open, and seaweed blanketed the grounds. Today, Draugen symbolizes the dark, mysterious essence of the ocean.
