Folklore
So in order to give everyone a better understanding and some insight on the basis of my novel and where the 'fantasy' part comes into play, I decided I would add a new page to delve into the folklore behind the book. Even though I have expanded upon and evolved the original Huldre folklore into the creatures of my novel, I believe it's important to share the origin of my inspiration.
For those who do not know, I'm half Norwegian and half Italian. All that know me well know I am very proud of my heritage. I was raised with a strong knowledge of my Norwegian background. I grew up speaking bits and pieces of Norwegian and visited my family in Norway as a toddler and most recently spent a summer there in 2015. As a child, my favorite books were Jan Brett's 'Trouble with Trolls' and 'Christmas Trolls', as well as 'Trolls and their relatives' by Jan Bergh Eriksen [my first encounter with the Huldra]. My mother also had my brother and I involved with a Scandinavian folk dance group for years in Brooklyn, NY where we danced in bunads, walked in the Syttende Mai parade [the Seventeenth of May-Norwegian Constitution Day], and participated in the annual Christmas telling of Santa Lucia. Several Norwegian traditions and stories were kept throughout the years in my family, many of which I could spend a long time going through. To say the least, I have found a deep love for it all. Viking blood flows through my veins. On my father's side, the Italian side, I grew up in a very tight knit family. We would do anything for one another. All of my memories are full of love, laughter, and amazing food! The truth is that I wouldn't be the person I am today without both amazing halves.
For those who do not know, I'm half Norwegian and half Italian. All that know me well know I am very proud of my heritage. I was raised with a strong knowledge of my Norwegian background. I grew up speaking bits and pieces of Norwegian and visited my family in Norway as a toddler and most recently spent a summer there in 2015. As a child, my favorite books were Jan Brett's 'Trouble with Trolls' and 'Christmas Trolls', as well as 'Trolls and their relatives' by Jan Bergh Eriksen [my first encounter with the Huldra]. My mother also had my brother and I involved with a Scandinavian folk dance group for years in Brooklyn, NY where we danced in bunads, walked in the Syttende Mai parade [the Seventeenth of May-Norwegian Constitution Day], and participated in the annual Christmas telling of Santa Lucia. Several Norwegian traditions and stories were kept throughout the years in my family, many of which I could spend a long time going through. To say the least, I have found a deep love for it all. Viking blood flows through my veins. On my father's side, the Italian side, I grew up in a very tight knit family. We would do anything for one another. All of my memories are full of love, laughter, and amazing food! The truth is that I wouldn't be the person I am today without both amazing halves.
Etymology and VariationsThe word Huldra comes from the Norwegian root word meaning 'covered' or 'secret'. It's plurals are Huldre or Huldrefolk. This folklore character is seen throughout Scandinavia and a few other countries including Finland and Germany. The Swedes have several names including, skogsrået, skogsrå, skogsfru, or skovfrue [meaning Lady of the Forest]. In Icelandic culture the Huldra are referred to as Huldufólk, and the German's also have a version called Frau Holda.
Origins and RelationsThere are a few origin stories that revolve around the Huldre, one of which I have concentrated on for the storyline of 'Moonstruck'. The Huldre are said to be some of the offspring of Adam and Eve. It is told that one day God came to Eve, but Eve being ashamed of her unclean children, hid them from God. In response to Eve's actions God said "What man hides from God, God will hide from man." The children were then taken from mankind and cast out to live amongst the hidden shadows of the world becoming what we now call the Huldre. Another tale states that the Huldre originated from the Lilith or fallen angels cast down from Heaven to live on earth, caught between Heaven and Hell.
In certain cultures the Huldre are often said to be related to Trolls and/or Elves. Others say they are more closely related to faeries, who are often named as 'a hidden people'. Huldra are known to be apart of the Rå as keepers of the forest. [Rå are wardens of the earth] Other species included in the Rå are the Sjörå- keepers of freshwater, Havsrå- keepers of saltwater [both are more commonly known as mermaids], and Bergsrå- keepers of the mountains. |
CharacteristicsThe Huldre are said to be extremely beautiful and dangerous. In Norway as a fair maiden, who has long hair and is sometimes naked when not dressed as a dairymaid to keep her cow tail hidden under skirts. In Sweden she is said to have a cow or fox tail. Other versions say that although she is very beautiful, her back is either a hollowed out tree trunk or covered in bark. A Huldra is known to be a seductive creature of the forest who often lures men away into the woods where she has her way with them. Some she eventually kills if they fail to satisfy her, while others escape only after surrendering their sanity to the forest woman. They are said to be the beautiful daughters of 'the hidden people' in Norway and use glamour to hide themselves or even shape-shift. Sometimes a Huldra will steal away a human child and replaces it with her own huldrebarn. The Huldre are also associated with hunting. If a Huldra blows into the barrel of a gun, the shooter will never miss his target. She is also connected to Odin's Hunt in Norse mythology where the god Odin hunts after the Huldra as prey. It is also said that if a Huldra falls in love and is married, her tail falls off and she lives out her life with her human husband. If the Huldra is mistreated, she is known to become rather cruel in her revenge. Although the Huldre are in large part portrayed as female, there are male versions called Huldrekall.
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