Scandinavian folklore

HULDRA
http://spangenhelm.com/huldra-folklore-lady-forest/

"In Scandinavian folklore, the huldra (Norwegian, derived from a root meaning “covered,” “hidden,” or “secret”) is a very elusive and seductive creature of the forest. The huld-rå being is a rå, which is a keeper or warden of a particular location or landform. The different species of rå are sometimes distinguished according to the different spheres of nature with which they were connected, such as skogsrå or huldra (forest), sjörå (freshwater) or havsrå (saltwater), and bergsrå (mountains)."


Vörðr

http://spangenhelm.com/vordr-norse-warden-spirit/

"Vörðr, or in Old Norse [i]vǫrðr[/i] (pl. [i]varðir or verðir), means: “warden,” “watcher,” or “caretaker.” In Old Swedish, the word is varþer and in modern Swedish it is vård. The English word ‘”wraith” derived from the Norse word vǫrðr, while “ward” and “warden” are cognates.

The belief in them remained strong in Scandinavian folklore up until the last centuries."[/i]

HULDRA
http://spangenhelm.com/huldra-folklore-lady-forest/

"In Scandinavian folklore, the huldra (Norwegian, derived from a root meaning “covered,” “hidden,” or “secret”) is a very elusive and seductive creature of the forest. The huld-rå being is a rå, which is a keeper or warden of a particular location or landform. The different species of rå are sometimes distinguished according to the different spheres of nature with which they were connected, such as skogsrå or huldra (forest), sjörå (freshwater) or havsrå (saltwater), and bergsrå (mountains)."


Vörðr

http://spangenhelm.com/vordr-norse-warden-spirit/

"Vörðr, or in Old Norse [i]vǫrðr[/i] (pl. [i]varðir or verðir), means: “warden,” “watcher,” or “caretaker.” In Old Swedish, the word is varþer and in modern Swedish it is vård. The English word ‘”wraith” derived from the Norse word vǫrðr, while “ward” and “warden” are cognates.

The belief in them remained strong in Scandinavian folklore up until the last centuries."[/i]

Which is the word for the keeper/taker of people's souls ?

As Brian has started a dedicated thread for Scandinavian folklore, I'll transplant my previous posts into it. The first was originally posted on 28 May 2018:

People may enjoy this classic collection of Norwegian folk and fairy tales by Peter Christen Asbjornsen (translated by H. L. Braekstad)
https://archive.org/stream/christmasfire...7/mode/2up

Of course, many of them are just entertaining tales, but others are stories of encounters with supernatural beings related in a relatively matter-of-fact way.

The second was posted later the same day:

By a rather weird coincidence, while searching for something unrelated, I came across this website:
http://folklorethursday.com/

Actually, I thought that was strange enough, but the real coincidence is that the most recent post on that site is about Norwegian folklore, and mentions the stories of Asbjornsen and his collaborator Moe:
http://folklorethursday.com/folktales/65...gEQlM.dpbs

The third was posted later still the same day:

Actually, I thought that was strange enough, but the real coincidence is that the most recent post on that site is about Norwegian folklore, and mentions the stories of Asbjornsen and his collaborator Moe:
http://folklorethursday.com/folktales/65...gEQlM.dpbs

The article is by Simon Hughes, who also has a blog entitled Norwegian Folktales:
https://norwegianfolktales.blogspot.co.uk/

And he has published a collection of "Erotic Folktales from Norway" - stories that were collected in the 19th century, but were considered unfit for publication. 

[Edit: I did get a copy of the "Erotic Folktales". Quite interesting in a way, but as the editor pointed out, not really "erotic". Probably "dirty" would be a better description.]

Wow, thanks a lot Chris for those interesting contributions! 

Which is the word for the keeper/taker of people's souls ?

I'm still looking into this but I only know that Odin is generally the one who looks after peoples lives and that the Huldra can steal souls.  I haven't yet come across a single being that does both.

I'm still looking into this but I only know that Odin is generally the one who looks after peoples lives [...]

Presumably mainly on Wednesdays. And certainly Never on a Sunday.

Wow, thanks a lot Chris for those interesting contributions! 



I'm still looking into this but I only know that Odin is generally the one who looks after peoples lives and that the Huldra can steal souls.  I haven't yet come across a single being that does both.

Thanks, Brian. I was thinking of Jung's dream the night his mother died. In a forest he encountered a giant wolfhound belonging to the wild huntsman, the "Grunhutl "  or "wearer of the green hat".

Edit: not wolf, wolfhound

Thanks, Brian. I was thinking of Jung's dream the night his mother died. In a forest he encountered a giant wolfhound belonging to the wild huntsman, the "Grunhutl "  or "wearer of the green hat".

Edit: not wolf, wolfhound

Thanks Tim, when searching for this I discovered an interesting free pdf copy of Jung's "Memories Dreams Reflections."

http://www.venerabilisopus.org/en/books-...ctions.pdf

However, outside of Jung's dream I can find nothing about the Grunhuntl or his wolfhound.  I'll ask my wife later and see if she knows anything.

Thanks Tim, when searching for this I discovered an interesting free pdf copy of Jung's "Memories Dreams Reflections."

http://www.venerabilisopus.org/en/books-...ctions.pdf

However, outside of Jung's dream I can find nothing about the Grunhuntl or his wolfhound.  I'll ask my wife later and see if she knows anything.

Thanks, Brian !