Whereas touring alongside Iceland’s South Coast, our group came across a rocky outcrop on the aspect of the highway. “Over there may be the place the elves dwell,” mentioned our information and driver Stefan Arngrímsson, pointing to the trio of enormous boulders. All of us seemed to the place Arngrímsson had motioned however didn’t discover something out of the extraordinary.
“Most of you gained’t be capable of see them,” he continued, “as a result of they’re what we name Huldufólk, or ‘Hidden Individuals.’”Arngrímsson then instructed us a story that dates all the best way again to the creation story of Adam and Eve:
In keeping with Icelandic folklore, Eve was in the course of bathing a few of her kids when God stopped by. Quite than having the Supreme Being see them whereas they had been nonetheless soiled, Eve hid them. However being all-knowing, God mentioned to her, “What man hides from God, God will cover from man.” That’s the second when Iceland’s Hidden Individuals originated
Though estimates differ, it’s mentioned that at the very least a 3rd of Icelanders consider in Huldufólk, whereas a big portion of others aren’t keen to disclaim their existence. It’s the age-old adage, “higher secure than sorry.” You see, Iceland’s elves are intricately linked with the nation’s pure panorama, and disturbing their supposed dwelling might wreak havoc on the native environment.
Basalt columns at Svartifoss Waterfall © Lianne Thompson
However elves aren’t Iceland’s solely legendary creatures. Trolls, dwarves, Nykur (a water horse) and the Lagarfljót Worm—which is taken into account the nation’s “very personal Loch Ness Monster” —are all part of the native lexicon.
And the reason being clear: As a Nordic island nation made up of deep fjords, gushing waterfalls and spouting volcanoes; a spot the place the northern lights erupt in iridescent colours on a transparent night time’s sky and basalt columns butt up in opposition to black sand seashores; and a small and remoted nation the place the winters are lengthy, darkish and chilly, a convention of wealthy and fantastical storytelling has emerged.
These allegorical tales have been crafted over time with influences from Icelander’s Norse and Celtic-speaking ancestors— in addition to Christianity—changing into a vital a part of their nationwide identification. They’re as a lot part of this Land of Fireplace and Ice as sheep and horses and a staple of on a regular basis life.
Meet a few of Iceland’s most outstanding legendary creatures, and uncover the very best locations for recognizing them countrywide.
Elves
Elves, or Huldufólk (Hidden Individuals), are supernatural beings that arrange their properties in unassuming locations, like Iceland’s many rocks and cliffs. They’re a lot part of Icelandic tradition that there’s even an Elf College in Reykjavik, the nation’s capital metropolis. Right here, guests and locals alike can study elf conduct and listen to associated testimonies from the numerous Icelanders who’ve had private contact with the elves, in addition to embark on post-session strolling excursions to one in every of Reykjavik’s major elf hubs.
As Arngrímsson identified, elves are usually not seen by everybody, regardless of dwelling lives which might be similar to that of native people. They elevate sheep, decide wild bilberries and crowberries, and sleep and eat. Preserve a watch out for álfhól, the small picket homes that Icelanders construct for the elves. You’ll typically spot them alongside roadsides, tucked inside gardens, or by the trunk of a tree.
A row of elf homes
Curiously, regardless of their tiny digs, a lot of the nation’s elves (there are regarded as at the very least 13 varieties of elves in Iceland) are human-size, like those showing in Director Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings. In addition they are typically extra enticing than us common people!
Respecting the properties of elves is important to the pure stability of Icelandic dwelling—in any other case, unhealthy issues can occur. For instance, in 2013, within the Reykjavík suburb of Gálgahraun, development staff needed to halt work on a highway by an area lava discipline as a result of Ófeigskirkja—a big rock believed to be an “elf church”—stood proper in its pathway. The years-long dispute resulted in a settlement that appeased each the elves and the people alike.
Then there’s the city of Kópavogur, south of Reykjavík, the place a rock often known as Elfhill led to so many gear breakdowns and accidents that laborers had been pressured to construct their highway round it.
An Icelandic horse rests beside enchanting turf buildings
To indulge within the notion of Elfin life, hassle-free, swing by Hafnarfjördur, a port city nested in a lava discipline about six miles south of Reykjavik. Many Icelanders contemplate Hafnarfjördur to be the nation’s unofficial elf capital. You may even decide up a map on the native vacationer workplace of the locations on the town the place elves are thought to dwell. One such spot is Hellisgerði Lava Park, a public park in Hafnarfjördur’s heart that’s recognized for its moss-blanketed lava formations—a haven for each elves and dwarfs.
Within the nation’s northeast, you’ll discover Ásbyrgi, a horseshoe-shaped canyon that’s dwelling to streams, caves, and the small Botnstjörn Lake. It additionally occurs to be the capital metropolis of Iceland’s elves, together with a cease on North Iceland’s 155-mile Diamond Circle driving tour.
Elf Holidays
Your greatest likelihood for recognizing elves in Iceland is on one in every of 4 annual holidays: New 12 months’s Eve, Twelfth Night time (January 6), Midsummer in June or Christmas night time.
It’s mentioned that the Hidden Individuals like to vary areas on New 12 months’s Eve, so Icelanders put out candles to assist information their means. On January 6, which in Iceland is known as Þrettándinn or “The Thirteenth,” native residents mild álfabrennur, or elf bonfires. Even in case you don’t see the Huldufólk themselves, you’re certain to see some people dressed as them and participating within the accompanying merriment, which usually consists of singing, dancing, and even folktales.
Trolls
They’re huge, moody and never the brightest of the bunch. Trolls rule over Icelandic folklore, popping out at night time to lure people into their caves and eat them. Seems they’re particularly a fan of misbehaving children. However don’t fear an excessive amount of! As soon as an Icelandic troll encounters daylight, it is going to flip to stone. In Iceland’s present retailers and storefronts, troll dolls typically function large ears, bulbous noses and droopy shoulders, however the trolls you’ll see in nature are those which have already been petrified.
Reynisdrangar Trolls
These embrace triangular-shaped Skessuhorn (Troll Girl’s Peak) in West Iceland, which the story goes was as soon as a feminine troll who used to sit down upon what’s now this fairly spectacular 3,173ft tall peak—nicknamed the “Matterhorn of Iceland”—sussing out individuals to catch and devour.
There’s additionally Tröllaskarð (Troll’s Move) within the north, the place a troll would sit watch and survey those that handed by; and Hvítserkur, a nearly-50-foot-tall sea stack in northwest Iceland which is believed to be a troll that was busy tearing down the bells of the previous Þingeyraklaustur monastery when he turned to stone.
On Iceland’s South Coast stand the trolls of Reynisfjara Seashore, three ocean rocks which might be the petrified stays of a trio of trolls who had been making an attempt to pull a three-masted ship to land, earlier than getting hit by the morning solar. The seaside itself is famend for its sneaker waves (don’t flip your again on them!) and black sands, in addition to its mountain of hexagonal basalt columns.
Christmas Folklore
No dialogue of Iceland’s legendary creatures can be full with out the 13 Xmas Lads, a baker’s dozen of mischievous brothers who mark the Christmas holidays with their arrival.
These pranksters-turned-holiday helpers are mentioned to reside at Dimmuborgir, a sequence of big lava pillars scattered throughout an space in north Iceland, with their ogre dad and mom, the giantess Grýla and her second or third husband, Leppalúði. Their pet, Xmas Cat, likes to roam the countryside on the lookout for kids who haven’t gotten any new garments that vacation season after which—in true legendary creature vogue—consuming them.
Reykjavik
The Xmas Lads arrive individually over the vacation season, delivering one small present at a time over 13 days. Rotten potatoes are par for the course for many who’ve misbehaved. The lads embrace Skyrgámur, the eighth Xmas Lad, who’s obsessive about the Icelandic yogurt (referred to as Skyr), and Ketkrókur, the twelfth Xmas Lad, who makes use of a hook to steal meat.
To really delve into this magical world of creatures, embark on Nat Hab’s 11-day Iceland: Circling the Land of Fireplace & Ice nature journey, our photo-focused Final Iceland Photograph Expedition, or our combo Iceland & Greenland: A Nordic Discovery journey!
© Lianne Thompson
