30+ Elves In Scandinavian Folklore

Although generally depicted as peaceful creatures and often portrayed as good in modern media there are some scandinavian tales in which elves are the perpetrators of wicked deeds.

Elves in scandinavian folklore. Elves fairies and leprechauns are all closely related in folklore though elves specifically seem to have sprung from early norse mythology. It was believed that the dokkalfar lived in caves. By the 1500s people began incorporating elf folklore. Tolkein s fantasy novels which included elves became popular elves have become more popular and tend to lean more towards the. 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. In the 1890 s something changed in the way common scandinavians saw themselves and their culture. However the details of these beliefs have varied considerably over time.

In early modern folklore they were connected with fairies. Despite their portrayal in movies as being eternally good and just in scandinavian folklore they could be either good or wicked. Unlike the dwarves the elves are believed to be graceful ethereal beings. However ever since j r r. The dokkalfar dark elves of norse mythology are considered to be some of the most frightening creatures of scandinavian folklore. 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. 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.

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. According to nordic folklore elves live in meadows and forests. 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. The scandinavian folklore consists of a huge variety of creatures good or evil which have frightened people for centuries. These classifications are roughly equivalent to the scottish seelie court and unseelie court.