Huldra

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Huldra by Theodor Kittelsen (1892)

The Huldra (also Hulder ) is a natural spirit of Scandinavian folklore . Usually a beautiful forest fairy with long blond hair, she beguiles men with her singing and throws them astray. It hides its tail, which, depending on the region, resembles that of a cow or a fox.

Usually female figures are named who are considered extraordinarily beautiful and seductive. Male specimens, however, the Huldrekall , are described as repulsive. From a mythological point of view, Huldras are among the Rå, nature spirits as found in many cultures (e.g. dryads ). Huldras were considered the protective spirits of the charcoal burners . They watched over the charcoal piles and woke the sleeping charcoal burners in case of danger, such as a fire.

A huldra in conversation with a charcoal burner (note its tail) by Per Daniel Holm from Svenska folksägner (1882)

If a man throws or shoots iron objects over the head of a huldra, he must marry her. If treated with loving care, it brings blessings and wealth to children; if treated badly, the huldra turns into an ugly and malicious fury. Huldras are usually described as friendly and benevolent, but there are other examples as well. Some legends tell of huldras who seduce men and reward those who have been able to satisfy them sexually but kill others. Especially in Norway, Huldras are described as crueler, who also steal human children and replace them with their own changeling .

The huldra motif was taken up in different contexts, here are a few examples:

  • The coat of arms of the Norwegian municipality of Lardal has shown a huldra since 1992.
  • Hulderheim (home of the Huldras) on the Norwegian island of Karlsøy and the Danish town of Huldremose (Huldramoor) refer to Huldras.
  • The Huldra is the central motif in John Burnside's novel In Bright Summer Nights (Original: A Summer of Drowning , 2011) and in Neil Gaiman's short story Monarch of the Glen: An American Gods Novella .
  • The Norwegian film Thale (2012) and the Swedish film Huldra: Lady of the Forest (2014) revolve around the Huldra .
  • Huldra is the name of a post-metal band formed in Salt Lake City in 2009 .
  • The Kjosfossen waterfall in Norway is a stop on the Flåm Railway , where Huldras can be seen and heard in front of the waterfall in summer. In fact, a dance is performed there today for tourists by students from the Norwegian Ballet School.
  • In the computer game Heroine's Quest, the heroine encounters a Huldra who holds the region's Jarl under her spell.

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Huldra on Nordlandscape
  2. ↑ Huldra . In: Theodor Westrin (Ed.): Nordisk familjebok konversationslexikon och realencyklopedi . 2nd Edition. tape  11 : Harrisburg – Hypereides . Nordisk familjeboks förlag, Stockholm 1909, Sp. 1262 (Swedish, runeberg.org ).
  3. ↑ nordlandscape.de
  4. ↑ spangenhelm.com
  5. ↑ spangenhelm.com
  6. ↑ People in Twilight . In: Die Zeit , No. 15/2012; Discussion of In bright summer nights
  7. ↑ Thale in the Internet Movie Database (English)
  8. ↑ Huldra: Lady of the Forest in the Internet Movie Database (English)
  9. ↑ Huldra the Band on Bandcamp.com (English)