Nordic folklore is thefolklore ofDenmark,Norway,Sweden,Iceland and theFaroe Islands. It has common roots with, and has been under mutual influence with, folklore inEngland,Germany, theLow Countries, theBaltic countries,Finland andSápmi. Folklore is a concept encompassing expressive traditions of a particular culture or group. The peoples ofScandinavia are heterogenous, as are the oral genres and material culture that has been common in their lands. However, there are some commonalities across Scandinavian folkloric traditions, among them a common ground in elements fromNorse mythology as well as Christian conceptions of the world.

Among the many tales common in Scandinavian oral traditions, some have become known beyond Scandinavian borders – examples includeThe Three Billy Goats Gruff andThe Giant Who Had No Heart in His Body.

• Tróndur was a powerful Viking chieftain who lived in the Faroe Islands during the 9th century. According to legend, Tróndur was killed by a Christian missionary namedSigmundur Brestisson, who had come to the islands to spread Christianity. Tróndur's legacy lives on in Faroese folklore, where he is often portrayed as a tragic hero.
• Risin and Kellingin are a pair of giants who are said to live on the island ofEysturoy. They are said to be very large and strong, and they are often depicted as being angry and destructive.^[1][2]
• Skógafoss is a waterfall located in the south of Iceland, and is home to a number of folk tales, including one about hidden treasure that is said to be buried at the base of the waterfall by Þrasi Þórólfsson.^[3]
• Reynisfjara is a black sand beach located in the south of Iceland. It is known for its toweringbasalt columns and itssea stacks.^[4] The beach is also home to a number of folk tales, including one about a pair of trolls who were turned to stone by the sun.^[5]

• Grindadráp: This traditionalwhaling practice is deeply rooted in the cultural history and mythology of theFaroe Islands and has been a significant part of their way of life for centuries. The Grindadráp is associated with various customs, beliefs, and rituals, including the importance of communal cooperation and the sharing of resources.^[6] However, the Grindadráp is also a contested and controversial practice in modern times, with concerns about its impact on animal welfare and sustainability.^[7]
• Íslendingasögur (IcelandicSagas or Sagas of Icelanders) are a series of prose narratives about events that took place in Iceland in the 9th, 10th and early 11th centuries.^[8] They are mostly based on historical events, but they also contain elements of fiction. The sagas tell the stories of the early settlers of Iceland, their families, and their descendants.^[9] Íslendingasögur are considered to be some of the finest examples of medieval literature.^[10] The sagas were originally written down in the 13th and 14th centuries, but they are believed to have been passed down orally for many years before that.^[11]
• Runes are letters of several related alphabets historically used by variousGermanic peoples, including the Norse.^[12] In Nordic folklore, runes hold significant cultural and mystical importance.^[13][14][15] They are often associated with the godOdin, who, according to myth, obtained the knowledge of runes through self-sacrifice.^[12] In modern Nordic culture, runes continue to hold symbolic and cultural significance.^[16] While the runic alphabet is no longer in common use for writing, it has become a popular element in art, jewelry, and tattoos, often serving as a connection to Norse heritage and a way to express cultural pride.^[17]
• Þorrablót is an annual mid-winter festival that celebrates traditional Icelandic cuisine. The festival is named after the month ofÞorri, which falls in January or February, and features dishes such as fermented shark, dried fish, and smoked lamb.^[18] The festival also includes music, dancing, and other cultural activities.^[18]

Nordic folklore's traditional dances, intricately linked to celebrations, rituals, and communal assemblies, exhibit specific movements, patterns, and music deeply ingrained in the cultural fabric of the region. An exploration of these dances unveils insights into social dynamics, community cohesion, and the perpetuation of mythological themes across generations.

• One Norwegianfolk dance,Halling, is characterized by its quick tempo (95–106 bpm) and features acrobatic moves. Typically performed by men during weddings or parties, Halling showcases athleticism through kicks, spins, and rhythmic footwork. The dance serves not only as a form of entertainment, but also as a display of skill and strength.^[19][20]

• Polska: Often danced as a couple, characterized by smooth flowing movements. Fiddle ornyckelharpa instruments are often found accompanying this dance. The dance holds cultural significance as it is commonly associated with celebrations and social gatherings.^[21][22]

• TheFaroese Chain Dance is the national dance of the Faroe Islands, often accompanied bykvæði, the Faroeseballads. Dancers form a circle, holding hands, and move in a rhythmic and coordinated manner. These ballads may recount tales of legendary heroes, folklore figures, or historical events specific to the Faroe Islands. The combination of dance and music enhances the immersive experience, allowing participants to physically engage with the narratives.^[23][24]

Stave churches in Norway represent a unique synthesis of Christian and Norse cultural influences, evident in their architectural and ornamental features.^[25] These wooden structures, characterized by intricate carvings, serve as tangible artifacts linking contemporary communities to historical narratives. Beyond mere historical relics, Stave churches function as active centers for cultural preservation, hosting various ceremonies and events. In the context of Norway's evolving cultural landscape, these churches endure as emblematic symbols of enduring identity and heritage, encapsulating the nuanced interplay between religious, mythological, and societal dimensions.^[26]

A large number of differentmythological creatures from Scandinavian folklore have become well known in other parts of the world, mainly throughpopular culture andfantasy genres. Some of these are:

Thecirchos is a sea creature that looks like a man with three toes on each foot.^[27][28] Its skin is black and red. It has a long left foot and a small right foot which drags behind, making it lean left when walking.^[29]

Thedraugr, ordraug (Old Norse:draugr;Icelandic:draugur;Faroese:dreygur;Norwegian:draug,drauv;Swedish:drög,dröger;Northern Sami:rávga), is an oldarchaic term for amalevolentrevenant with varying ambiguous traits.

In the Icelandic sagas, it describes dangerous corporealundeads which protects their burial mounds or thereof. They have magical abilities and canshapeshift, including changing size and mass.

In Norwegian folklore, the draugr either refers to land dwelling revenants, or a collective entity encompassing the drowned at sea, sometimes specified as thesea draugr (Norwegian:havdraug,sjødraug), which may appear wearing the clothes of a seaman, but featuring a head of seaweed. The latter is especially dangerous, and acts as a sign that people will drown at sea. TheWild Hunt, in Norway, has been said to involve draugrs, and, during Christmas, the old Nordic Christmas tradition of leaving out food and beer on Christmas night, as to wellcome spirits of the deceased, household spirits and thereof, into the house, involves leaving beer specifically for the draugrs, to keep them from being malicious, so called "draug-beer" (Norwegian:drøv-øl,drøv being a form for draugr). One famous Christmas story tells of a man who finds the "sea draugr" sitting by the coast on Christmas Eve, aggravating it, and then being chased by it inlands. When crossing a graveyard, the "land draugrs" (the buried) awaken and emerges from their graves to attack the sea draugr.

In Faroese folklore, the draugr is said to be a type of undead being that inhabits the mountains and hills of the Faroe Islands.^[30] It is typically described as a large, strong creature with pale skin and long, dark hair. It is often depicted as beingcannibalistic.^[31]

InSámi folklore, the draugr (Kildin Sami:роа̄ввк,roāvvk;Lule Sami:rávgga;Northern Sami:rávga;Pite Sami:rávvga;Southern Sami:raavke) is a term for a malevolent revenant and thereof. The term entered theProto-Sámi languages during themigration period throughProto-Norse. In some Sámi folklore, it is said to be the spirit of a drowned person, which in turn drowns people. InNorthern Sámi, this creature is sometimes called a "water draugr" (čáhcerávga).

Elves (in Swedish, Älva if female and Alv if male, Alv in Norwegian, and Elver in Danish) are in some parts mostly described as female (in contrast to thelight and dark elves in the Edda), otherworldly, beautiful and seductive residents of forests, meadows and mires. They are skilled in magic and illusions. Sometimes they are described as small fairies, sometimes as full-sized women and sometimes as half transparent spirits, or a mix thereof. They are closely linked to the mist and it is often said in Sweden that, "the Elves are dancing in the mist". The female form of Elves may have originated from the female deities called Dís (singular) and Díser (plural) found in pre-Christian Scandinavian religion. They were very powerful spirits closely linked to the seid magic. Even today the word "dis" is a synonym for mist or very light rain in Swedish, Norwegian and Danish. Particularly in Denmark, the female elves have merged with the dangerous and seductive huldra, skogsfrun or "keeper of the forest", often called hylde. In some parts of Sweden the elves also share features with the Skogsfrun, "Huldra", or "Hylda", and can seduce and bewitch careless men and suck the life out of them or make them go down in the mire and drown. But at the same time the Skogsrå exists as its own being, with other distinct features clearly separating it from the elves. In more modern tales, it isn't uncommon for a rather ugly male Tomte, Troll, Vätte or a Dwarf to fall in love with a beautiful Elven female, as the beginning of a story of impossible or forbidden love.^[32]

TheHuldra, Hylda, Skogsrå or Skogfru (Forest wife/woman) is a dangerous seductress who lives in the forest.^[33] The Huldra is said to lure men with her charm. She has a long cow's tail, or according to some traditions, that of a fox, which she ties under her skirt in order to hide it from men.^[33] If she can manage to get married in a church, her tail falls off and she becomes human.^{[citation needed]}

TheHuldufólk are a race offairies orelves who are said to live in the mountains, hills, and rocks of the Faroes. They are said to be similar in appearance to humans, but they are much smaller and have pale skin and long, dark hair. The huldufólk are generally benevolent creatures, but they can be mischievous if they are angered.^[34]

Kraken (lit. 'the Crookie') is a legendary massive sea-monster with tentacles, said to appear off the coasts ofNorway.^[35]

It is often depicted resembling a giantoctopus orsquid, albeit actual folklore is less defined. The Swedish encyclopediaNordisk familjebok gave the following summation of the Kraken myth in 1884:

Kraken ("the crookie") orhorven ("the harrow"), a sea monster belonging to the realm of fable, of which E. Pontoppidan, with the support of the statements of Norwegian fishermen, recorded in “Norges natuurlijke historie” (1752–53).

It is said that when fishermen row out a few miles (Scandinavian miles) from the coast on a hot summer's day in a calm, and according to normal calculations should find a depth of 80–100fathoms (140–180 metres (460–590 ft) deep), it sometimes happens that theplummet bottoms at 20–30 fathoms (35–50 metres (115–164 ft) deep). But in this water stand the most abundant shoals ofcod andlings. Then you can assume that the kraken lurks down there; as it is he who forms the artificial elevation of the bottom and by his secretions attracts fish there. But if those fishing notice that the kraken is rising, it is necessary to row away for all the boat can take. After a few minutes, the beast can then be seen lifting the upper part of its body above the surface of the water, which for a quarter of a mile (ca 1.5 mi.) in circumference appears as a collection ofskerries, covered with swaying, seaweed-like growths. Finally, a few shining tentacles rise up in the air, increasingly thicker at the bottom, which can even appear as high as ship's masts. After a while, the kraken gives in to sinking again, and you then have to be careful not to run into thesuction vortex that is formed.^[36]

In Scandinavia, there has been a widespread belief in theMara. The Mara (or, in English, "nightmare") appears in many different forms, but would terrorize the sleeping by "riding" on their chest, thus giving them nightmares. (This appears to describe "apparitions" commonly seen and/or felt during episodes ofsleep paralysis.) The Mara traditionally could ride on cattle, which would be left drained of energy and with tangled fur at the Mara's touch. Trees would curl up and wilt at the Mara's touch as well. In some tales, like theBanshee, they served as an omen of death. If one were to leave a dirty doll in a family living room, one of the members would soon fall ill and die oftuberculosis. ("Lung soot", another name for tuberculosis, referred to the effect of proper chimneys in 18th and 19th century homes. Inhabitants would therefore contract diseases due to inhaling smoke on a daily basis.)^[37]

There was some discrepancy as to how they came into being. Some stories say that the Maras are restless children, whose souls leave their body at night to haunt the living. Another tale explains that if a pregnant woman pulled a horse placenta over her head before giving birth, the child would be delivered safely; however, if it were a son, he would become a werewolf, and if a daughter, a Mara.^{[citation needed]}

The Neck or the Nixie (Danish:nøkken,Norwegian:nøkken,Swedish:näcken;Icelandic:nykur,Faroese:nykur;Finnish:näkki,Estonian:näkk), among other names (Swedish:strömkarlen, "the stream man"), is a dangerous and powerfulfresh water-dwelling spirit. It plays an instrument to lure victims to water in order to drown them. It has commonly been used as aboogieman to keep children away from dangerous water, however, it is not really a malevolent being. If gifted goods, it can give music lessons.

It is ashapeshifter, and appears in many shapes. In mainland Scandinavia, it often appears as a naked slender man, either an older bearded man, or a young fair man, but it can also appear as inanimate objects, such as underwater treasure, as well as animals. A common animal form is a white horse thewater horse (Swedish:bäckahästen,åhästen, "the brook horse"), which is the conventional form on theFaroese Islands.

• 
  "The Water Sprite" by NorwegianTheodor Kittelsen (1857–1914), featuring a Neck lurking nighttime in a calm body of water.
• 
  Strömkarlen by SwedeErnst Josephson (1851–1906), featuring the Neck as a fair naked man.
• 
  Näcken by SwedeJohan Tirén (1853–1911), featuring a young boy learning violin from the Neck in the waterfall.
• 
  Drawing of the Neck with aquatic plants for hair. The Neck is said to have green hair or foliage in the hair.

TheSelkie is a mythical creature that is part-human and part-seal. According to legend, Selkies can shed their seal skins and transform into humans. There are many stories in Faroese folklore about Selkies falling in love with humans and leaving their sea life behind to live on land.^[38]

Selma is a legendarysea serpent said to live in the 13-kilometre-long (8.1-mile)Lake Seljord (Seljordsvatnet) inSeljord,Vestfold og Telemark,Norway.^{[citation needed]}

Storsjöodjuret, often referred to as the "Great Lake Monster," is steeped in the folklore of Sweden, specifically withLake Storsjön.^[39] Notably the legendary creature was briefly granted a protected status by theSwedish Environmental Protection Agency, but this was later removed by theSwedish Parliament.^[40]

Troll (Norwegian and Swedish), trolde (Danish) is a designation for several types of human-like supernatural beings in Scandinavian folklore.^[41] They are mentioned in theEdda (1220) as a monster with many heads.^[42] Later, trolls became characters in fairy tales, legends and ballads.^[43] They play a main part in many of the fairy tales from Asbjørnsen and Moes collections of Norwegian tales (1844).^[44] Trolls may be compared to many supernatural beings in other cultures, for instance theCyclopes ofHomer'sOdyssey.^{[citation needed]} In Swedish, such beings are often termed 'jätte' (giant), a word related to the Norse 'jotun'. The origins of the word troll is uncertain.^[45]

Trolls are described in many ways in Scandinavian folk literature, but they are often portrayed as stupid, and slow to act. In fairy tales and legends about trolls, the plot is often that a human with courage and presence of mind can outwit a troll. Sometimes saints' legends involve a holy man tricking an enormous troll to build a church. Trolls come in many different shapes and forms, and are generally not fair to behold, as they can have as many as nine heads. Trolls live throughout the land. They dwell in mountains, under bridges, and at the bottom of lakes. Trolls who live in the mountains may be rich and hoard mounds of gold and silver in their cliff dwellings.Dovregubben, a troll king, lives inside theDovre Mountains with his court, as described in detail inIbsen'sPeer Gynt.

Wights (Old Norse:vættr,véttr,vítr;Danish:vætte;Norwegian:vette;Swedish:vätte 'm',vittra 'f'), is one of many common terms for supernatural, small, human-like creatures, often thought to live underground. Such is both defined as its own thing, as well as being anumbrella term for many different types of folklorean beings.^[46] InFinnish, such are called:hiisi,maahinen, andhaltija; inSámi:ganij,sajva (Southern Sami:saajve),ulda (Northern Sami:ulddát), andkadinah, depending on the area.^[47]

TheNisse (in southern Sweden, Norway and Denmark) ortomte (in Sweden) is a benevolent wight who takes care of the house and barn when the farmer is asleep, but only if the farmer reciprocates by setting out food for the nisse and he himself also takes care of his family, farm and animals. If the nisse is ignored or maltreated or the farm is not cared for, he is likely to sabotage the work instead to teach the farmer a lesson. Although the nisse should be treated with respect, some tales warn against treating him too kindly. There's a Swedish story in which a farmer and his wife entered their barn early in the morning and found a little, old, grey man sweeping the floor. They saw his clothing, which was nothing more than torn rags, and the wife decided to make him some new ones; when the nisse found them in the barn, however, he considered himself too elegant to perform any more farm labour and thus disappeared from the farm.^{[citation needed]} Nisser are also associated with Christmas and the yule time. Farmers customarily place bowls of rice porridge on their doorsteps to please the nisser, comparative to the cookies and milk left out for Santa Claus in other cultures. Some believe that the nisse brings them presents as well.

In Swedish, the word "tomten" (definite form of "tomte") is very closely linked to the word for the plot of land where a house or cottage is built, which is called "tomten" as well (definite form of "tomt"). Therefore, some scholars believe that the wight Tomten originates from some sort of general house god or deity prior toOld Norse religion.^{[citation needed]} A Nisse/Tomte is said to be able to change his size between that of a 5-year-old child and a thumb, and also to have the ability to make himself invisible.

A type of wight from Northern Sweden calledVittra lives underground, is invisible most of the time and has its own cattle. Most of the time Vittra are rather distant and do not meddle in human affairs, but are fearsome when enraged. This can be achieved by not respecting them properly, for example by neglecting to perform certain rituals (such as saying "look out" when putting out hot water or going to the toilet so they can move out of the way) or building your home too close to or, even worse, on top of their home, disturbing their cattle or blocking their roads. They can make your life very very miserable or even dangerous – they do whatever it takes to drive you away, even arrange accidents that will harm or even kill you. Even in modern days, people have rebuilt or moved houses in order not to block a "Vittra-way", or moved from houses that are deemed a "Vittra-place" (Vitterställe) because of bad luck – although this is rather uncommon. In tales told in the north of Sweden, Vittra often take the place that trolls, tomte and vättar hold in the same stories told in other parts of the country. Vittra are believed to sometimes "borrow" cattle that later would be returned to the owner with the ability to give more milk as a sign of gratitude. This tradition is heavily influenced by the fact that it was developed during a time when people let their cattle graze on mountains or in the forest for long periods of the year.

• Birgit Ridderstedt
• Danish folklore
• Henrik Ibsen's 1867 playPeer Gynt
• Huldufólk
• John Bauer (illustrator)
• Norse mythology
• Norske Folkeeventyr, a collection of Norwegian folktales
• Thunderstone (folklore)

Wikimedia Commons has media related toFolklore of Scandinavia.

• "On Nordic Folklore Archives" by John Lindow (University of California, Berkeley), 2025
• Norwegian folktales in English translationArchived 23 February 2023 at theWayback Machine
• Archive of Icelandic Folktales, catalogued according to theAarne-Thompson-Uther Index (in Icelandic)
• Digital collection of Norwegian Eventyr and Legends by the University of Oslo (In Norwegian)
• Norwegian Folktale Index and archives by SAMLA

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