Page "Elf" Paragraph 60

The elves of Norse mythology have survived into folklore mainly as females, living in hills and mounds of stones.

The Swedish älvor.

( sing.

älva ) were stunningly beautiful girls who lived in the forest with an elven king.

They were long-lived and light-hearted in nature.

The elves are typically pictured as fair-haired, white-clad, and ( like most creatures in the Scandinavian folklore ) nasty when offended.

In the stories, they often play the role of disease-spirits.

The most common, though also most harmless case was various irritating skin rashes, which were called älvablåst ( elven blow ) and could be cured by a forceful counter-blow ( a handy pair of bellows was most useful for this purpose ).

Skålgropar, a particular kind of petroglyph found in Scandinavia, were known in older times as älvkvarnar ( elven mills ), pointing to their believed usage.

One could appease the elves by offering them a treat ( preferably butter ) placed into an elven mill – perhaps a custom with roots in the Old Norse álfablót.