Elves In Scandinavian Folklore

The dokkalfar dark elves of norse mythology are considered to be some of the most frightening creatures of scandinavian folklore.

Elves in scandinavian folklore. Unlike the dwarves the elves are believed to be graceful ethereal beings. Despite their portrayal in movies as being eternally good and just in scandinavian folklore they could be either good or wicked. Meadow elves by nils blommér 1850 an elf old norse álfr old english ælf old high german alb proto germanic albaz is a certain kind of demigod like being in the pre christian mythology and religion of the norse and other germanic peoples the elves are luminous beings more beautiful than the sun 2 whose exalted status is demonstrated by their constantly being linked. They were often meant to scare children but even today they are essential and important to the modern northern society.

By the 1500s people began incorporating elf folklore. The scandinavian folklore consists of a huge variety of creatures good or evil which have frightened people for centuries. According to nordic folklore elves live in meadows and forests. Tolkein s fantasy novels which included elves became popular elves have become more popular and tend to lean more towards the.

Elf plural elves in germanic folklore originally a spirit of any kind later specialized into a diminutive creature usually in tiny human form in the prose or younger edda elves were classified as light elves who were fair and dark elves who were darker than pitch. Elves is a type of humanlike supernatural being in germanic mythology and folklore in medieval germanic speaking cultures elves seem generally to have been thought of as beings with magical powers and supernatural beauty ambivalent towards everyday people and capable of either helping or hindering them. Elves fairies and leprechauns are all closely related in folklore though elves specifically seem to have sprung from early norse mythology. Described as having bright glowing red eyes pale white skin and wearing steel grey armor they were first mentioned by snorri sturluson in his 12th century collection of norse poetry called the edda.

It was believed that the dokkalfar lived in caves. More often portrayed as female elves were said to inhabit the meadows and forests of scandinavia where they were sometimes portrayed as tiny fairies transparent spirits or almost human. However the details of these beliefs have varied considerably over time. In the 1890 s something changed in the way common scandinavians saw themselves and their culture.

These classifications are roughly equivalent to the scottish seelie court and unseelie court. Scandinavian folklore or nordic folklore is the folklore of norway sweden denmark iceland and the faroe islands it has common roots with and has been mutually influenced by folklore in england germany the baltic countries finland and sapmi folklore is a concept encompassing expressive traditions of a particular culture or group. They are supernatural beings in germanic mythology and folklore elves were first attested in old english and old norse texts and are prominent in british and scandinavian folklore.