Tales of Folklore and Superstition from Denmark - Including stories of Trolls, Elf-Folk, Ghosts, Treasure and Family Traditions

Benjamin Thorpe

Description

This detailed volume delves into the rich history of folklore and superstitions in Denmark, detailing the myths surrounding trolls, elves, gods, and ghosts.

First published in 1851, Tales of Folklore and Superstition from Denmark is a wonderful read for those who wish to immerse themselves in the legendary world of Danish mythical and supernatural beings. Also included in this volume are family traditions and tales of battles fought and lost.

Sujets

• Social Science
• Sociologie, société et politique
• Mythology
• Folklore

Informations

• Publié par: Read Books Ltd.
• Date de parution: 17 septembre 2020
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781528764834
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 1 Mo

Extrait

Tales of Folklore and Superstition from Denmark
Including Stories of Trolls, Elf-Folk, Ghosts, Treasure and Family Traditions
Copyright 2011 Read Books Ltd.
This book is copyright and may not be reproduced or copied in any way without the express permission of the publisher in writing
British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
Contents
Trolls - Barrow- or Mount-Folk, Elf-Folk and Dwarfs
Traditions of Spectres
Historical
Of Historical Persons, Family Traditions
Treasures and Treasure Diggers
TROLLS. BARROW- OR MOUNT-FOLK, ELF-FOLK AND DWARFS.

ORIGIN OF TROLLS.
I.
T HE people in Jutland relate, that when our Lord cast the fallen angels out of heaven, some of them fell down on the mounds or barrows and became Barrow-folk , or, as they are also called, Mount-folk , Hill-folk ; others fell into the elf-moors, who were the progenitors of the Elf-folk ; while others fell into dwellings, from whom descend the domestic sprites or Nisser .
II.
While Eve was one day washing her children by a spring, our Lord unexpectedly appeared before her, whereat she was terrified, and concealed those of her children that were not yet washed. Our Lord asked her if all her children were there; she answered yes, to avoid his anger, if he should see that they were not all washed. Then said our Lord, that what she had concealed from him should thenceforth be concealed from mankind; and at the same moment the unclean children disappeared and were concealed in the hills. From these descend all the underground folk.
In a rabbinic tradition it is said, that after Adam had eaten of the tree of knowledge he was accursed for a hundred and thirty years. During all these years, as we are informed by Rabbi Jeremias ben Elieser, he procreated only schedim , i. e. demons and the like.
ELF-FOLK.
The Elf-folk dwell in the Elf-moors. The male appears as an old man with a broad-brimmed hat; the female Elf is young and seducing in appearance, but behind she is as hollow as a dough-trough. Young men should be particularly on their guard against her, for it is difficult to withstand her, and she has besides a stringed instrument, when she touches which she infatuates every heart. The male is often to be seen by the Elf-moors basking in the sunbeams; but if any one approach him too near, he will stretch his jaws and blow on them, which causes sickness and pestilence 1 . The females are most frequently to be seen in the moonlight, when they dance their circling dance in the high grass with such lightness and grace, that they seldom get a refusal, when they offer a young man their hand. Good care must be taken to prevent cattle from grazing where the Elf-folk have been; for if an animal come on a place where they have either spat or done worse, it will be seized with grievous complaints, which can be remedied only by giving them to eat a handful of St. John s wort, gathered on St. John s night at twelve o clock. It may also happen that they receive injury by mingling with the Elf-folk s cattle, which are particularly large and of a blue colour. Such are sometimes to be seen in the fields licking the dew from the grass, for it is on that they live. The peasant may, however, provide against the evils above-mentioned, if, before he lets his cattle loose, he goes to the Elf-barrow and says: Thou little Troll! may I graze my cows on thy mount? If he gets no refusal, he may feel easy.
Between Tersl se and Sobierg lies Sobierg-Banke, which is the richest barrow in all Seeland; it is in fact impossible to tell the precious things to be found there. In this hill there dwells a Troll-wife, to whom there was once a grand procession from Steenlille field, when the Troll in Galtebierg took her to wife.
It often happens, in fine weather, that the passer-by sees the most beautiful copper utensils and choicest beddings lying on the mound to be aired; and on approaching still nearer, he may see the young Elflings labouring to get them all in with the utmost speed.

In Illerup field near Kallundborg there is a mount called Fibierg-Bakke, in which there is a vast number of Trolls, who have much property and gold there. It may be plainly seen that they have a hole in the mount through which they drag those on whom they seize. At Yule one may see how they bring out their silver and gold to sun it, at which time it is dangerous to go on the mount. But on St. John s night the entire mount is set on red pillars, and then dancing and merry-making may be seen there. At this time any one may approach, and may also see how they drag great chests full of money backwards and forwards.
In Laaneh i on r the Troll-folk may frequently be heard slamming their coffer-lids. Some harvest-people once sitting on the mount at their repast, heard, by placing their ear to the earth, that they were grinding corn in it.

That Mount-folk formerly dwelt in Galleh i on r there can hardly be entertained a doubt; for not only have people heard them slam their coffer-lids, but the smith in Lille-Rise, who in the war time kept watch there, heard every morning a clock strike five in the mount.

Near strel, between Aalborg and Thisted, there is a mount, in which there dwells an elfin smith. At night one may plainly hear that smith s work is going on there; and in the side of the mount there is a hole, by which in the morning slag and flakes of iron may be found.

In the neighbourhood of Sundby, on the isle of Mors, there is a mount inhabited by a Troll who is a smith. At night one may hear when he is at work. Opposite to this mount there is a sand-hill, where the same smith has another workshop, whence may be heard the strokes of ponderous hammers. At midnight he often rides through the air from one workshop to the other, on a horse without a head, with hammer in hand, followed by all his apprentices and journeymen.

In the parish of Buur there are three large mounts. In one of them dwells a Troll who is a smith and has his workshop there. At night fire may frequently be seen issuing from the top of the mount, and, singular enough, entering again at the side; but it is by that means he keeps his iron hot. If any one is desirous of having a piece of iron forged, he needs only to lay it on the mount, together with a silver skilling, at the same time saying what he wishes done, and the next morning the skilling will have disappeared, and the piece of work desired will lie ready and well executed 1 .
Once some of the country people of Buur determined to dig up this Troll s treasure; for which purpose they one night assembled with spades and pickaxes. After all had been informed that they must beware of uttering even a single word, however strongly they might be tempted, they set to work. But scarcely had they put a spade in the ground before all sorts of frightful sights came out of the mount. Still they dug on unconcerned in the most perfect silence, until they arrived at a spacious stone apartment. There lay the treasure before them, to wit, a large copper kettle full of gold money, close by which was an enormous black dog asleep. One of the men then taking off his coat, laid the dog gently upon it, for the purpose of carrying him away. At this moment came a great load of hay out of the mount, drawn by two cocks, which drew their load thrice round the mount; still no one uttered a syllable, until one of the cocks kicked out behind with such force that he broke the thick pole of the wagon, at which one of the men exclaimed: That was a deuce of a kick for a cock! But scarcely had he said the words when all the men, many as they were, were projected to a considerable distance out of the mount, which was instantly closed again. On making a second experiment, it seemed to them that the whole ster-Buur was in flames, at which sight, casting away their spades, they ran to their several homes; but on reaching the village they found all safe and quiet.
In these goblin smiths may evidently be recognised the descendants of the dwarfs of the Eddaic mythology.

At Gamtofte, not far from Assens, there is a mound in a field in which a Troll is said to have taken up his abode. Of this Troll it is related that he is very obliging when persons wish to borrow anything; on which occasion it is simply necessary to go to the mount and knock thrice on the north side, at the same time naming the things required, whether pots, pans or other domestic utensils, when they instantly get what they need, but may be reckoned as dead, if they do not return them at the time fixed.

On the isle of M en 1 there is a mount called sted-H i. Once when Margaret Sk lvigs was passing it on her way to Elmelund castle, an old woman met her and asked: Whither art thou going, my child? Margaret answered that she was on her way to Elmelund castle, to borrow a gown of Peter Munk s wife, to be married in. Then said the old woman: If thou wilt be here on Saturday, I will lend thee a bridal dress. On the Saturday following Margaret went accordingly to sted-H i, and the woman brought her beautiful clothes of gold embroidery, ordering her to bring them back in a week; if then no one appeared to receive them, she might consider them her own property. Thus did Margaret Sk lvigs appear as a bride in clothes of gold embroidery; and when she took them back at the time appointed, no one was there to receive them, so she rightfully kept them as her own.

In Thyholm there is a series of lofty mounts which were formerly inhabited by the Mount-folk. A peasant once passing them on his way to Vestervig market, happened at the moment to utter complaints that he was mounted on such a sorry jade. On his way back, he saw lying precisely on the spot where he had sent forth his lamentations, four horseshoes, which he took home and shod his horse with them. But from that time no other horse in the neighbourhood could go with such speed as his.
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