Elves and Icelanders

Photo by Ida Koric on National Geographic's MyShot

I recently have seen articles popping up claiming that a majority of Icelanders believe in elves--I dug a little deeper, and found this National Geographic video from a feature in 2008.

Initially the idea might evoke a laugh, but its very interesting how this folklore survives--something taken from ages long ago before travelers even settled in Iceland from Norway and beyond.

An article by Rolf Soderlind out of Iceland appeared in Reuters at some point, and it explains how elves still play a part in modern Icelandic society--an odd story indeed, discussing how a woman who could allegedly communicate with elves was contracted to figure out why bulldozers kept breaking down in a construction zone a few hours outside Reykjavik.

However, a travel article on Iceland listing a few tips about Icelandic culture also claims that many Icelanders believe in elves, while Icelanders in the comments section dispute this. It should probably be noted that the article mentions that Icelanders have a great sense of humor--maybe the joke's on us?

Either way, Iceland is a place that definitely deserves some attention--not just for it's 2011 volcanic eruption--but also for its unique culture and natural beauty. I'm planning to make a visit late next spring with camping gear, a camera, a notebook and a bicycle. The photo up top shows the Laugavegur Trek, one of the main destinations for my expedition. I'm expecting quite an experience--but probably not any elves.