In the Realm of Fairies and Gnomes
Period : June – September .Accomodation: “Stuga” , 7 days /6 nights.
“Are you sure That we are awake? It seems to me That yet we sleep, we dream”
― William Shakespeare, A midsummer Night’s Dream
VISITING THIS LAND IN THE SUMMER means you capture the ‘essence of the place’ – all famous romantic travellers seek to discover this essence during their travels. The woods, the forests and the sparse arctic vegetation which covers the entire plain like a carpet. Dense forests of Birch trees with their lush foliage, fungi, mosses, lichens, arctic berries, not to mention the breeding season when the woods are populated by birds building nests, bears waking up from their hibernation, reindeer grazing in the dim light, all of which creates a magical atmosphere. The waterfalls also have their own importance.
I have often been privileged to be in places where Gnomes and Elves suddenly appear, cheering or scaring the traveller who is invading their territories. The Gnomes are in fact spirits of the forest, sometimes good, sometimes mischievous, you just need to know how to captivate their sympathy and get them on your side. During our Summer excursion we visit these enchanted lands where nature forms and transforms things. It incorporates all living things and creates sinister figures.
The word fairy derives from Latin and means guardian or tutelary spirit.
Fairies are supernatural beings who mingle with men, often attending their birth, in order to give them their dowries, some more or some less favourable. They influence mans existence with benevolent or malevolent influences. Eg. the Fates (from the Greek Moira, fate), or Fates, the classical tradition, who became the Tria fairies of Ausonius, the Norns, the Norse tradition, whose memories are of Nordic Trolls, Elves, Kobolds, etc …
Oberon and Titania, characters in the play “ a Midsummer Night’s Dream “by William Shakespeare, are considered to be the king and queen of the fairies.
The writer WB Yeats, in his collection “Irish Faery and Folk Tales” (1893) writes: “I do not believe that fairies are always small. They can change everything according to their whim, even their size. Apparently , they can assume any shape or size they like. Their main job is to feast, fight, make love and play beautiful music.
But there are also the Tomte and the Elves who mainly live in trees or hidden in some forests. Do not ever hurt Nature itself in any way because for them Nature is an essential part of their life and existence. They have a high regard for Nature, which they perceive as an entity, a great spirit, the Mother of all beings. They are able to walk without leaving a trace, they are immune to disease and resistant to extreme temperatures. Elves live a long life without ageing so their beauty is not marred by time. They are said to be immortal but they are not invulnerable to wounds from swords, arrows and poisons, and therefore can be killed.
There are many legends associated with these mythological figures, some of which talk about the bad things that they do towards men including the abduction of human children. Elves have a strong hierarchy, the most important of which are the queens and kings of the hills of the fairies,
these hills are easily recognisable because they are often covered with a fresh blanket of hawthorns. Shakespeare, in his theatre pieces, often spoke highly of the Elves, as in the comedy A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
Scandinavia is also rich in myths and legends related to small Tomte or Nisse, or Gnomes who, if well treated, guarantee prosperity for your family and the house in which you dwell. This is particularly important in rural areas of Scandinavia, where even now in many farms – especially in the Christmas period, the family prepare a little area in their own garden, where children bring things for them to eat during the Christmas holiday period. .
Enjoy a week with us !