A long time ago, God was coming to visit Adam and Eve. A proud woman, Eve wanted all her children to be clean and well presented, when they met God. However, when God arrived, some of the children were still dirty and unkempt. Eve felt so ashamed, she decided to hide them. God asked Eve "do you have more children," and Eve replied "no". God is of course omniscient (all seeing), and said "what's hidden to me shall be hidden to humans". The children became invisible, and started to live in rocks and hills. Known as the Huldufólk or hidden people, they are the same shape, size and form as humans. Be warned, if you damage or destroy their homes misfortune will come your way.
In the ninth century, Norse settlers migrated across the North Atlantic Ocean, to Iceland. They encountered a landscape that was active with volcanoes, hot springs and earthquakes. Winter was harsh, it was wise to respect the earth, and worship the Norse Gods and nature spirits of the land.
Two Sisters and the Elves: A Tale from Iceland
This tale is a retelling from 'The Collection of Folklore' by Jón Árnason.
At Christmas and New Year, the hidden people like to celebrate, and will sometimes visit people’s homes, and dance until first light.
Once upon a time, there were two sisters who lived with their parents, on their family turf farm. One of the sisters was spoilt, and the other was treated badly. Every New Year Mum, Dad and all the farm workers went to church for evening prayer. And every year, the spoilt sister went with them, but the other sister was made to stay home, and watch over the farm. Despite being treated badly, the sister cleaned the house, and walked round the farm reciting a verse, to invite in the elves and hidden people as was tradition.
"Komi þeir sem koma vilja, veri þeir sem vera vilja, fari þeir sem fara vilja, mér og mínum að mein(a)lausu.”
“Let those who thus wish come for a visit, let those who stay who wish to stay, let those leave who wish to leave. And do right by me and my people.”
Once that was done, she sat down in the loft to read the scriptures, until dawn. Soon after, a multitude of finely clad elves and hidden people came in. They brought with them, gold and jewels and asked the sister if she wanted to join them, and dance. The sister declined, and continued reading the bible, while the elves danced.
The sister did not speak until dawn, when she said, “thank God the day has come”. Hearing God’s name the elves and hidden people ran out of the house, leaving their treasure behind.
Soon after Mum, Dad, the other sister and the farm labourers returned home. At the site of all the treasure, the spoilt sister felt jealous, and insisted next year she would be the one to stay home.
The following New Year's Eve, the favourite daughter stayed behind, while the others went to church. She did not clean the house, but instead lit the farm, and waited for the elves and hidden people to come. When they arrived, beautifully clad, bringing gold and jewels, she accepted when they invited her to dance. Unfortunately, while dancing she broke her leg, and at dawn, the elves took all their treasure away with them.
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