Meet Iceland’s Magical & Mythological Creatures

Whereas touring alongside Iceland’s South Coast, our group came across a rocky outcrop on the facet of the street. “Over there may be the place the elves reside,” mentioned our information and driver Stefan Arngrímsson, pointing to the trio of enormous boulders. All of us regarded to the place Arngrímsson had motioned however didn’t discover something out of the extraordinary.

“Most of you gained’t have the ability to see them,” he continued, “as a result of they’re what we name Huldufólk, or ‘Hidden Individuals.’”

Arngrímsson then advised us a story that dates all the best way again to the creation story of Adam and Eve:

The Hidden Individuals

In accordance with Icelandic folklore, Eve was in the course of bathing a few of her youngsters when God stopped by. Fairly than having the Supreme Being see them whereas they have 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 least a 3rd of Icelanders consider in Huldufólk, whereas a big portion of others aren’t prepared 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.

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 evening’s sky and basalt columns butt up towards 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—turning into an important a part of their nationwide identification. They’re as a lot part of this Land of Hearth 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 habits and listen to associated testimonies from the various Icelanders who’ve had private contact with the elves, in addition to embark on post-session strolling excursions to one among Reykjavik’s major elf hubs. 

As Arngrímsson identified, elves aren’t seen by everybody, regardless of residing lives which can be similar to that of native people. They increase sheep, decide wild bilberries and crowberries, and sleep and eat. Hold an eye fixed out for álfhól, the small wood 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, many of the nation’s elves (there are considered at the least 13 kinds of elves in Iceland) are human-size, like those showing in Director Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings. Additionally they are typically extra engaging than us common people!

Methods to Keep away from Elf Ire

Respecting the properties of elves is crucial to the pure steadiness of Icelandic residing—in any other case, unhealthy issues can occur. For instance, in 2013, within the Reykjavík suburb of Gálgahraun, development employees needed to halt work on a street via an area lava subject 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 tools breakdowns and accidents that laborers have been pressured to construct their street round it.

An Icelandic horse rests beside enchanting turf buildings

The place to Discover Elves in Iceland

To indulge within the notion of Elfin life, hassle-free, swing by Hafnarfjördur, a port city nested in a lava subject about six miles south of Reykjavik. Many Icelanders contemplate Hafnarfjördur to be the nation’s unofficial elf capital. You possibly can even decide up a map on the native vacationer workplace of the locations on the town the place elves are thought to reside. 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 finest probability for recognizing elves in Iceland is on one among 4 annual holidays: New 12 months’s Eve, Twelfth Night time (January 6), Midsummer in June or Christmas evening.

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 approach. On January 6, which in Iceland is named Þrettándinn or  “The Thirteenth,” native residents mild álfabrennur, or elf bonfires. Even should you don’t see the Huldufólk themselves, you’re positive to see some people dressed as them and participating within the accompanying merriment, which generally contains singing, dancing, and even folktales. 

Trolls

They’re large, moody and never the brightest of the bunch. Trolls rule over Icelandic folklore, popping out at evening 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 would flip to stone. In Iceland’s reward outlets and storefronts, troll dolls typically characteristic massive ears, bulbous noses and droopy shoulders, however the trolls you’ll see in nature are those which have already been petrified. 

Reynisdrangar Trolls

These embody triangular-shaped Skessuhorn (Troll Lady’s Peak) in West Iceland, which the story goes was as soon as a feminine troll who used to take a seat upon what’s now this fairly spectacular 3,173ft tall peak—nicknamed the “Matterhorn of Iceland”—sussing out folks to catch and devour.

There’s additionally Tröllaskarð (Troll’s Cross) 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 Seaside, three ocean rocks which can be the petrified stays of a trio of trolls who have been making an attempt to tug 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 collection of big lava pillars scattered throughout an space in north Iceland, with their ogre mother and father, the giantess Grýla and her second or third husband, Leppalúði. Their pet, Xmas Cat, likes to roam the countryside in search of youngsters 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 reward at a time over 13 days. Rotten potatoes are par for the course for individuals who’ve misbehaved. The lads embody Skyrgámur, the eighth Xmas Lad, who’s obsessive about the Icelandic yogurt (known 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 Hearth & Ice nature journey, our photo-focused Final Iceland Picture Expedition, or our combo Iceland & Greenland: A Nordic Discovery journey!

© Lianne Thompson