Hulder

A hulder (or huldra) is a seductive forest creature found in Scandinavian folklore. Her name derives from a root meaning "covered" or "secret".[1] In Norwegian folklore, she is known as huldra ("the [archetypal] hulder", though folklore presupposes that there is an entire Hulder race and not just a single individual). She is known as the skogsrå "forest spirit" or Tallemaja "pine tree Mary" in Swedish folklore,[2][3][4] and ulda in Sámi folklore. Her name suggests that she is originally the same being as the völva divine figure Huld and the German Holda.[5] The word hulder is only used of a female; a "male hulder" is called a huldrekall and also appears in Norwegian folklore. This being is closely related to other underground dwellers, usually called tusser (sg., tusse).

Though described as beautiful, the huldra is noted for having a distinctive inhuman feature — an animal's hairy legs and tail, (usually a cow's or a fox's), and/or a back resembling a hollowed-out tree — carefully disguised under a long clothing.

## Contents

* 1 Folklore
* 1.1 Relations with humans
* 2 Toponyms
* 2.1 Danish
* 2.2 Norwegian
* 2.3 Sámi
* 3 In popular culture
* 4 See also
* 5 References

## Folklore

The hulder is one of several rå (keeper, warden), including the aquatic sjörå or havsfru, later identified with a mermaid, and the bergsrå in caves and mines who made life tough for the poor miners.

More information can be found in the collected Norwegian folktales of Peter Christen Asbjørnsen and Jørgen Moe.

### Relations with humans

A hulder is talking with a charcoal burner. She looks like a young farmer woman, but her tail is peeking out under her skirt. From Svenska folksägner (1882).

The hulders were held to be kind to charcoal burners, watching their charcoal kilns while they rested. Knowing that she would wake them if there were any problems, they were able to sleep, and in exchange they left provisions for her in a special place. A tale from Närke illustrates further how kind a hulder could be, especially if treated with respect (Hellström 1985:15).

## Toponyms

A multitude of places in Scandinavia are named after the Hulders, often places by legend associated with the presence of the "hidden folk". Here are some examples showing the wide distribution of Hulder-related toponyms between the northern and southern reaches of Scandinavia, and the terms usage in different language groups' toponyms.

### Danish

* Huldremose (Hulder Bog) is a bog on Djursland, Denmark famous for the discovery of the Huldremose Woman, a bog body from 55BC.

### Norwegian

* Hulderheim is southeast on the island of Karlsøya in Troms county, Norway. The name means "Home of the Hulder".
* Hulderhusan is an area on the southwest part of Norway's largest island, Hinnøya, whose name means "Houses of the Hulders".

### Sámi

* Ulddaidvárri is a place in Kvænangen Municipality in Troms county (Norway). The name means "Mountain of the Hulders" in North Sámi.
* Ulddašvággi is a valley southwest of Alta in Finnmark county (Norway). The name means "Hulder Valley" in North Sámi. The peak guarding the pass over from the valley to the mountains above has a similar name, Ruollačohkka, meaning "Troll Mountain"—and the large mountain presiding over the valley on its northern side is called Háldi, which is a term similar to the above-mentioned Norwegian rå, that is a spirit or local deity which rules a specific area.

## In popular culture

Template:Promotional section In the mobile game Year Walk, one of the Watchers is a Huldra.

They are mentioned in Seanan MacGuire's October Daye series in the book "A red-rose chain".

Neil Gaiman's novella The Monarch of the Glen, published in the collection Fragile Things, includes references to Hulder legends.

In the subsequent Year Walk: Bedtime Stories for Awful Children, the first chapter is devoted to the Huldra.[6]

In chapter 40 (chapter XL: "A day in Hälsingland", section: "The Animals' New Year's Eve") of the novel Nils Holgersson's Wonderful Journey through Sweden, a narrated legend mentions the Huldra.

In the video game "Bramble: The Mountain King," developed by Dimfrost Studios in 2023, the boss Skogsrå is a Huldra.

In A Curse Carved in Bone, Danielle L. Jensen’s novel, the characters encounter a Huldra.

Huldror play a key role in Arlo Z. Grave's dieselpunk fantasy series The Duskingr Saga. The cultural rift between the huldror and selkie is a central issue in the series. In book 1, The Ice Moves for No One, the huldra woman Vespald plays a major role and will be a primary character in the series moving forward. She is also portrayed as autistic and speaks partially in a signed language. There are several other named huldror characters including a priest named Lylok.

## See also

* Banshee
* Baobhan sith
* Bloody Mary (folklore)
* Clíodhna
* Dames blanches
* Enchanted Moura
* Glaistig
* Glashtyn
* Huldufólk
* Leanan sídhe
* Mami Wata
* Mavka
* Miss Koi Koi
* Neck (water spirit)
* Nymph
* Patasola
* Pontianak (folklore)
* Rusalka
* Samodiva (mythology)
* Sihuanaba
* Siren (mythology)
* Skogsrå
* Succubus
* Thale (film)
* Weiße Frauen
* White Lady (ghost)
* Wight
* Witte Wieven

## References

1. ↑ Hellström, AnneMarie (in no). Jag vill så gärna berätta. ISBN 9179080022.
2. ↑ Granberg, Gunnar (1935) (in Swedish). Skogsrået i yngre nordisk folktradition. Skrifter / utg. av Kungl. Gustav Adolfs akademien för folklivsforskning, 99-0440828-9; 3. Uppsala: Lundequistska bokh.. LIBRIS 321677.
3. ↑ Hultkrantz, Åke, ed (1961). The supernatural owners of nature: Nordic symposion on the religious conceptions of ruling spirits (genii loci, genii speciei) and allied concepts. Stockholm studies in comparative religion, 0562-1070; 1. Stockholm: Almqvist & Wiksell. LIBRIS 541848.
4. ↑ Häll, Mikael (2013) (in Swedish). Skogsrået, näcken och djävulen: erotiska naturväsen och demonisk sexualitet i 1600- och 1700-talens Sverige. Stockholm: Malört. LIBRIS 13887591. ISBN 978-91-978751-2-7.
5. ↑ "Nordisk familjebok" (in sv). 1909-01-01. https://runeberg.org/nfbk/0659.html.
6. ↑ "Year Walk Bedtime Stories for Awful Children" (in en-US). 2015-09-02. https://simogo.com/work/year-walk-bedtime-stories-for-awful-children/.

* v
* t
* e

Scandinavian folklore

Beings|

* Askafroa
* Bäckahäst
* Bergsrå
* Changeling
* Deildegast
* Draugr
* Dwarf
* Elf
* Erlking
* Fossegrim
* Gjenganger
* Helhest
* Hulder
* Kraken
* Mara
* Myling
* Nisse
* Neck
* Rå
* Sjörå
* Skrømt
* Skogsrå
* Troll
* Troll cat
* Valravn
* Vargr
* Vættir
* Vǫrðr
* Will-o'-the-wisp
* Ysätters-Kajsa

People|

* Askeladden
* Blenda
* Disa

Origins|

* Norse mythology
* Old Norse religion

* v
* t
* e

Fairies

Related articles|

* Changeling
* Classifications of fairies
* Fairy fort
* Fairy godmother
* Fairy-locks
* Fairy path
* Fairy riding
* Fairy ring
* Fairy tale
* Hungry grass

Royalty in folklore|

* Áine
* Alberich
* Arawn
* Beira
* Bodb Derg
* Brigid
* Clíodhna
* The Dagda
* Donn
* Dullahan
* Fairy Queen
* Finvarra
* Gwyn ap Nudd
* Gwythyr ap Greidawl
* Gyre-Carling/Nicnevin
* Manannán mac Lir
* Queen of Elphame
* Saci-pererê

Royalty in literature|

* Belphoebe
* Caelia
* Elegast
* Erlking
* Gloriana
* Lurline
* Mab
* Oberon
* Titania

Fairylands in folklore|

* Alfheim/Elphame
* Annwn
* Arcadia (utopia)
* Avalon, Afallach, and Emain Ablach
* Brú na Bóinne
* Cnoc Meadha
* Cnoc na Teamhrach
* Fortunate Isles
* Hy Brasil
* Inis Vitrin
* Mag Mell
* Niðavellir
* Otherworld
* Rathcroghan
* Seelie Court
* Svartálfar and Svartálfaheimr
* Tír na nÓg
* Unseelie Court

Fairies in culture|

* The Fairy with Turquoise Hair
* Cottingley Fairies
* Faerieworlds
* Faerie faith
* Faery Wicca
* Fairy painting
* The Faerie Queene
* The Fairly OddParents
* Rainbow Magic
* Tinker Bell

Fairies in folklore

Northern
Europe|

* Alp Luachra
* Anjana
* Aos Sidhe
* Arkan Sonney
* Asrai
* Baobhan sith
* Banshee
* Barghest
* Bean nighe
* Billy Blind
* Biróg
* Bloody Bones
* Bluecap
* Blue men of the Minch
* Bodach
* Boggart
* Bogle
* Boobrie
* Boogeyman
* Brag
* Brownie
* Brown Man of the Muirs
* Bucca
* Buggane
* Bugbear
* Bugul Noz
* Caoineag
* Cat sìth
* Cù Sìth
* Ceffyl Dŵr
* Clurichaun
* Coblynau
* Co-Walker
* Cyhyraeth
* Dames blanches
* Drow
* Duende
* Duergar
* Dullahan
* Dwarf
* Each-uisge
* Elf
* Enchanted Moura
* Fachan
* Fear dearg
* Fear gorta
* Fenodyree
* Finfolk
* Fuath
* Gancanagh
* Ghillie Dhu
* Glaistig
* Glashtyn
* Gnome
* Goblin
* Green Man
* Gremlin
* Groac'h
* Grindylow
* Gwragedd Annwn
* Gwyllion
* Gwyn ap Nudd
* Habetrot
* Haltija
* The Hedley Kow
* Heinzelmännchen
* Hob
* Hobgoblin
* Hödekin
* Hulder
* Iannic-ann-ôd
* Imp
* Jack-o'-lantern
* Jack o' the bowl
* Jenny Greenteeth
* Joan the Wad
* Joint-eater
* Kabouter
* Kelpie
* Kilmoulis
* Klabautermann
* Knocker
* Knucker
* Kobold
* Korrigan
* Leanan sídhe
* Leprechaun
* Lorelei
* Lubber fiend
* Ly Erg
* Mare
* Meg Mullach
* Melusine
* Mermaid
* Merrow
* Mooinjer veggey
* Morgen
* Morvarc'h
* Nain Rouge
* Näkki
* Nicnevin
* Nix
* Nuckelavee
* Ogre
* Peg Powler
* Pixie
* Púca/Pwca
* Puck
* Radande
* Redcap
* Selkie
* Seonaidh
* Shellycoat
* Sluagh
* Spriggan
* Sprite/Water sprite
* Swan maiden
* Sylph
* Tomte
* Tooth fairy
* Troll
* Tuatha Dé Danann
* Tylwyth Teg
* Undine
* Water bull
* Water horse
* Wight
* Will-o'-the-wisp
* Wirry-cow
* Yan-gant-y-tan
* Xana

Fairy-like beings in folklore

Africa|

* Abatwa
* Asanbosam
* Aziza
* Bultungin
* Eloko
* Jengu
* Kishi
* Mami Wata
* Obayifo
* Rompo
* Tikoloshe
* Yumboes

Oceania|

* Bunyip
* Manaia
* Mimis
* Muldjewangk
* Patupaiarehe
* Taniwha
* Tipua
* Wandjina
* Yara-ma-yha-who
* Yowie

Americas|

* Alux
* Canotila
* Chaneque
* Curupira
* Encantado
* Ishigaq
* Jogah
* Kachina
* Menehune
* Nawao
* Nimerigar
* Nûñnë'hï
* Pukwudgie
* Saci
* Squonk
* Yunwi Tsunsdi

Asia|

* Apsara
* Diwata
* Gandharva
* Irshi
* Kappa
* Kijimuna
* Kinnara
* Kitsune
* Kodama
* Koro-pok-guru
* Mogwai
* Orang bunian
* Puteri
* Peri
* Bake-danuki
* Tengu
* Tennin
* Yaksha
* Yakshini
* Yōkai
* Yōsei

Europe|

| Greek|

* Dryad
* Hamadryad
* Kallikantzaros
* Lampad
* Maenad
* Naiad
* Nereid
* Nymph
* Oceanid
* Oread
* Pan
* Potamides
* Satyr
* Silenus

|

Romanic|

* Căpcăun
* Faun
* Iele
* Lares
* Di Penates
* Sânziană
* Spiriduș
* Squasc
* Vâlvă
* Vântoase
* Zână
* Zmeu

Slavic|

* Bagiennik & Bannik
* Berehynia
* Domovoi
* Karzełek
* Kikimora
* Leshy
* Likho
* Polevik
* Psotnik
* Rusalka
* Vila
* Vodyanoy

Celtic|

* Tuatha Dé Danann

Germanic|

* King Goldemar
* Alberich
* Elegast
* Hodekin
* Hinzelmann
* Weiße Frauen

Texts|

* Daemonologie (1597)
* Treatises on the Apparitions of Spirits and on Vampires or Revenants (1751)
* Goethe's Faust (1832)

See also
Category
List of beings referred to as fairies

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