Scandinavian Folk Belief and Legend (Nordic Series) [Paperback]

Reimund Kvideland (Author), Henning Sehmsdorf (Contributor)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 11, 1991 | Series: Nordic Series

Here is a rich compendium of hundreds of legends, stories, beliefs, and magic collected from oral sources in preindustrial Scandinavia. In this rural society, the people lived close to nature and believed themselves an integral part of it. This volume focuses on beliefs that illustrate the central aspects of a traditional worldview, rather than on prose narratives considered for their literary value.

Product Details

• Paperback: 456 pages
• Publisher: Univ Of Minnesota Press; 1 edition (February 11, 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0816619670
• ISBN-13: 978-0816619672
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.9 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #304,277 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Reminiscent of the Brothers Grimm, December 18, 2009

By 

Spence the Elder (East TN, USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Scandinavian Folk Belief and Legend (Nordic Series) (Paperback)

"Scandinavian Folk Belief and Legend", Kvideland & Semsdorf editors.

A fascinating collection of over 400 Scandinavian folktales and stories. To paraphrase what the Editors state in the introduction, this compellation is one of the first modern collections of tales covering the totality of Scandinavia, vs. several others that are country specific. Not unlike Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm's collection of folk tales, these stories run the gambit of morality plays, teaching tools for children and adults to just interesting and fun. Some are simple common sense applications to everyday life. Unlike many of the Grimm's stories, (or Sturluson's works, for that matter), most of these stories have not got that heavy handed Christian Church influence that so often changes the original intent of the tale. Conversely, the stories that do deal with Church subjects, the Devil etc, have not been modernized to the point where the original folk wisdom fails to shine through.

The majority of these tales are stories that had been told around camp fires and villages for a thousand years or more. These stories have evolved as time went on, as all oral traditions do. Now, having said this, it must be remembered that these works have been written down for several hundred years or so and have an oral history that stretches back into the mists of ,"AGO", as in," Once upon on a time, a long, long time ago". This was a time when children, or adults for that matter, were not sheltered from the realities of life, sickness and death. Some of the tales are quite, (no pun intended), Grimm. So, if you have a wimpy sheltered child that needs a trophy for placing 12th in a race so their self-esteem wont be shattered and the rest of their lives ruined, you may want to find another venue for story time.

Another aspect of the book I enjoyed was that while most of these stories were rather brief, all were well remarked on and footnoted. This was a delightful change from many of the works available today. All and all, highly recommended for anyone interested in the folk history of Northern Europe.

In Frith,

Spence The Elder

"Sic gorgiamus allos subjectatos nunc"

M. Addams

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A collection of Nordic folk-belief, February 3, 2008

By 

ThorBjorn "Norseman" (Minnesota) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Scandinavian Folk Belief and Legend (Nordic Series) (Hardcover)

Inside this tome of ancient lore you will find a vast sampling of common mythological and folk belief from all across the region of Scandinavia and Iceland. The subject matter varies from superstitions, magical practices, supernatural beings, and regional and national legends.

The subject matter is vast, there is only brief discussion of the historical and cultural significance of the topics and tales within, but this book would become an entire encyclopedia of Nordic folklore, if that were the case. This is the type of book which will surely spark your interest for further research into the subject.

An observation on folklore, pertaining to contemporary pop-culture and religious perceptions:

Many readers will recall the idiotic fussing which certain types of "Christians" made over the "Harry Potter" books, in recent years.

This book features a few stories about Saemundr the Wise, an Icelandic Catholic priest, ...who was ALSO a WIZARD.

There is a large cycle of folklore about Saemundr, in which he utilizes his skills as priest and as a WIZARD, to decieve the devil. In fact, one of the primary stories of Saemundr, describes the circumstances of his training:

When Saemundr was studying in France to become a priest (probably at Troyes), the Black School appeared in that area. It was run by the devil, and the student learned Black Magic. The Black School was a stone and earth mound-like structure, which materialized at certain places and times in the mortal world.

Only a small number of students could enter. Once inside, the Black School disappeared, and the students were sealed up inside for a long period of time (a year, or several years). There was absolute darkness inside, the only light being the illuminated words on the pages of the books, which glowed like fire when read. A large hairy hand would frequently appear and provide food or books to the students.

At the end of the alloted time, the door (a hatch in the ceiling) would open and the students would rush out, as the devil would calim the last one out. Saemundr announced that he would be the last. The door opened, the students climbed the latter, and escaped. Saemundr had hung his coat on his shoulders, and rushed up the latter behind the others. The devil said "You are mine!" and grabbed the coat. Saemund slipped out, and dove through the door. The door slammed shut behind him.

Other variants of the tale, say that Saemundr did indeed stay, and learned even more Black Magic from the devil.

Now, Saemundr was a Medieval super-hero. Every tale about him describes how he used his intellect, religion, and MAGIC ...to defeat the devil. The tales most often involve Saemundr using his skills and status to rescue a member of his church.

Saemundr ...is a CHRISTIAN WIZARD!

These Saemundr tales date back to the time when the Viking Sagas were finally being written down in Iceland (early Middle Ages).

Yet, ...some silly old church-ladies will have you believe, that reading Harry Potter books will make you "in league with Lucifer"!

3 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Art of the Folklore, March 1, 2010

By 

Dag Stomberg (St. Andrews, Scotland) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Scandinavian Folk Belief and Legend (Nordic Series) (Paperback)

A sure good folklore was thought to be deeply rooted in the soul

of the people as a natural force. The threads of kinship are woven together in these Scandinavian beliefs and legends. They do represent rural oral traditions.

This is a book of extreme importance to anyone interested in

Scandinavian history.

Dag Stomberg

St. Andrews, Scotland