Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
dragging them into the woods (unless they can first drag her to a church). There are
even lucky trolls who grant wishes to fishermen who treat them nicely.
A larger version of the troll was the giant, and according to legend, the world was
created from the body of the giant Ymir of Jotunheimen (home of the giants), after
his death at the hand of the Norse god Oðinn.
Mythical Creatures
In addition to trolls, elves, which normally live by streams in the deepest forests, come
in both good and bad varieties. They only emerge at night, and it's said that the sites of
their nocturnal festivities and dances are marked by luxuriant rings of grass. Other elusive
creatures include the frightening draugen, a headless fisherman who foretells drownings
with a haunting wail; and the vetter (wights), who serve as the guardian spirits of the wild-
est coastlines. Serpents also existed in Viking mythology, and at least one is still with us
today - the mysterious Selma the Serpent (see the boxed text,
Click here
).
Natural Phenomena
ThevalleysinwesternandnorthernNorwayarerichsourcesoffolktales,sagasandmyths,
many of them explaining curious geographic features.
In one story, a lonely island-dwelling giantess shouted across the water to a giant named
Blåmann (Blue Man) on the mainland, asking him to marry her. He agreed, provided she
brought the island along with her. Sadly, by the time she'd packed, the sun rose and she
turned to stone, as did Blåmann, who'd stayed out too long waiting for her. The island be-
cameknownasGygrøy(GiantessIsland),butlocalfisherfolkrenameditLandegode(Good
Land), lest the giantess take offence. Landegode's distinctive profile is a familiar landmark
on the ferry between Bodø and Kjerringøy, while poor old Blåmann is now an icecap.
CULTURAL ICON: HENRIK IBSEN
Born in Skien in southern Norway, Henrik Johan Ibsen (1828-1906) became known
internationally as 'the father of modern drama', but to Norwegians he was the con-
science of a nation. Norwegians are extremely proud of Ibsen, but from 1864 until
1891 he lived in disenchanted exile, decrying the small-mindedness of the Norwegi-
