The Norwegian Fjords

hose priceless gems of early literature, the "Eddas"

f the pagan mythology of the North in pre-Christian times. They were written at a period following on the first settlement of Iceland, which was accomplished by pagan Celts

hat is known as the "Younger Edda," being inspired by t

These stories were greatly embellished by the "Saga"-makers, who related them in the halls of petty kings and chieftains at great

writing in the year 1130. From these early writings we gath

en my

uns" (giants) and wizards. Niord was controller of winds and protector of sailors, and Freya was the goddess of peace. Balder the Be

d heroes in Asgaard. Neiffelheim was the frozen underworld, and Muspelheim

flat fireplace of stone, on which the flesh of the sacrifice was cooked. The smoke from the burning found its way through a square hole in the roof. Rude benches ran along the sides of the walls, and in t

f the pagan gods, with the principal one-oftest Thor-in the centre. On the altar the victim of the sacrifice-usually an animal, but sometimes a human being-was slain and laid, and the b

ng the mystic rites and ceremonies. On this ring were sworn all oaths at the "Thing" meeting,

gan

architect Blix in 1880. Built of stone, it is picturesquely situated on an eminence, at an elevation of some 200 feet. It overlooks the village

t of our illustration. Dating from the twelfth century, it is one of the finest examples of its kind in exist

rly medieval paintings and richly carved. The massive church portals show also antique carvin

itious

ntains are high and steep, and the valley is narrow and wild, it is no wonder that

relics of antiquity as these hoary churches and the scattered burial-mounds ("grav-haug") of dead warriors of pagan times, we can quite understand why it is that

ng done as a protection against the mischievous tricks of the "trolds" (gnomes). These are believed to live up in the wildes

-kirke" S

house, and at early morning they go into the cow-house and

east, the peasants say that the performer must have been up the mountains and learnt from the "trol

eautiful, and they sometimes assume human form, the only difference being that they have a c

calding them and their children underground. Peasant women to this day will never throw out hot water from their doorways without first saying, "Take care, you who under live." Should ch

out, "Tell Turid that Tarald is dead." The girl could see no one near, and on arriving at the "s?ter" told the other girls there w

h called out, "Thamus." Thamus was the name of the skipper. Twice the voice called out, and he did not answer; but on hearing it for

l. When he arrived there, however, the sea was quiet, and he, remembering the words, called out loudly that the great Pan was dead. Im

s are out, they often visit the stables of the lonely farms and take out the horses. These are brought back again, however, just before dawn, but so overworked or overridden and tired that they are quite ready to collapse with fatigue. To guard against this inconvenience, the

h the night among the farms; and there are those now living who relate that in their fore-elders' time t

e mounds, "grav-haug," are thought to visit each other, and may be se

tain tarns and by the brooks. These nixies are able to transform themselves into any kind of animal or reptile, somet

Finns have always been held in great dread by the Norwegian peasants on account of their pagan practices, witchcraft and sorcery. This pagan Finn offered to rid the place of the reptiles if only there was not among them wh

hich he climbed; it was just so high that none of the snakes could reach him. There he sat a

fell and brake, from crag and wood, all came racing up to the fire. But now, alas! came also the "visorm" so dreaded by the

wn sprang the Finn from his high seat; but he was promptly seized by "hvidormen," and both disappeared into the funeral pyre to

inhabited islands in the old days, but it is uncertain whether people nowadays quite believe in this nonsense, although they mi

land, by fishermen, but always at a distance, never near enough for them to be able to take its dimensions. This sea-monster is supposed to be

's helmeted head, the lower part of the body being in shape like to an icicle, and no one has ev

nt c

," or "Balder's Baal," on midsummer's eve, a festival of the sun, held on the longest day. It is in

solbilledet, s

sten

ithjof

anslated

l, sun's beauti

n rocks co

e and midsummer, and both were celebrated by the lighting of great fires. This primitive custom is be

untain breast is alight; hundreds of fires shine and glimmer as far as the eye can see

blaze in the dance, the music of the fiddle being almost drowned by the sing

ead a crown of birch twigs; the other girls, in national costume, follow in procession, headed by the fidd

ing over the water from the surrounding farms, the young folks,

iled high with combustible material and floated some distance from shore, where it is anchor

nd the fire, at a safe distance from it, and the lively not

the district shoot into the air with rifles, and fire small cannon around the house on the evening when the young man goes to ask of the parents th

ually paid at the end of the week, and he generally spends the night there. As a practical joke, the peasant boys have been known to take his b

nvited from 150 to 200 guests, festiviti

uously, the "Hailing" and "Spring" dances being

nsequently wild and exciting. The services of the Hardanger fiddler are in great request, and he f

dings take place at the same church at the same time. There is great competition among the fiddlers on such an occasion, each one playing to the very ext

Fj

d that a feat had been achieved on the way to the kirk by their fiddler, who, while all along playing his best, did at the same time chaff his comrade

which their ability to kick the highest is put to the test for the admiration and applause of the onlooking girls. This rivalr