Creatures of Sweden: Inhabitants of Cemeteries, Forests and Fields

Tales of household spirits, goblins, and water sprites exist in all the world’s cultures from time immemorial. In today’s Scandinavia and nearby islands, unclean beings were first mentioned in ancient Icelandic literature, where the words vätte and troll referred to all supernatural creatures, including gods. Swedish folklore is no exception: early medieval ballads speak of dangerous trolls, terrifying werewolves, and ghosts. The interference of otherworldly forces is a great way to justify one’s failures and interpret unexplained natural phenomena. Underwater currents and whirlpools are nothing other than the tricks of mermaids and water sprites. Thunder is the hunt of gods for forest maidens. Fog is the dance of elf women dressed in snow-white garments. People feared and avoided the unclean: children didn’t go into whirlpools because a water sprite lived there, and they stayed away from deep wells where “the well old man” lived. Nevertheless, representatives of the otherworld could be negotiated with through rituals—for example, to appease spirits so they would ensure a good harvest or luck on a hunt. This book is an exciting journey into the world of Swedish unclean spirits as ancient Swedes once imagined them—and as their descendants see them now. The edition includes colored illustrations drawn based on images from Scandinavian legends and tales.