Stories About the Wood Nymph Huldra - Stories About Us
Skjelbred, Ann Helene Bolstad: Fortellinger om Huldra - fortellinger om ossIn Norwegian popular belief, „Huldra” is a supernatural female creature with a cow’s tail, known best for her attempts to lure young men travelling through the woods, where she resides. Our conception of Huldra is mostly influenced by the illustrations drawn by sketchers and painters during the years, and that often focus on the erotic Huldra; the woman who seduces and tempts. In the old stories, however, the wood nymphs have several other aspects: They help and punish, set limits, make trouble for people or generously endow valuable gifts. Moreover, they embellish life with dance and music. The wood nymphs are portrayed as supernatural or abnormal creatures; they are „the other”, people’s invisible proponents or opponents. But they can also become visible for those who have the ability to see.
In this book the author reads several Huldra stories of the past with a perspective that have current interest also today, and shows that these stories are not only relevant to the „old peasant culture” of the past. Based on old stories and legends about the invisible people who exist for those who have experienced them, seen them and believe in the reality of their experience, the author elucidates the question about belief in one’s own experiences and feel equal to a communal belief and salvation, as well as to female values, sexuality and power.
By making connections between older conceptions of the Huldra and a reality we recognise from discussions in our own times, the author interprets the old popular belief within a contemporary perspective. In this manner she shows how old conceptions and superstitions are still used in the discussions about religion, about women’s relationship to each other and to the other sex, and about how society and women themselves relate to sexuality and power. Stories About the Wood Nymph Huldra - Stories About Us pertains to a broad public interested in culture, and in particular to those who wish to know more about the meeting between old myths and current reality.
Contents: Preface/Stories About the Wood Nymphs - Stories About Us/To Believe One’s Own Eyes/„Not Before My Staff Flowers...”/The Strange Child/„The Neighbour Hag”/ Nature Takes Revenge/„Take the Night Back /Violence, Influence and Women’s Power/Bibliography
About the author: Ann Helene Bolstad Skjelbred is professor of folklore at Tromsø Museum.
Publisher: Tano Aschehoug AS 1998
ISBN: 82-518-3681-6
157 pp, paperback
