Huldufólk

Definetively, nature is the one who rules in the territory, and in the mind of the inhabitants of a country in the middle of the Atlantic sea. When getting deeper into the wild nature, the feeling is of invading an overwhelming territory in where the presence of human civilization will be always forbidden. a lanf of Landvættir, elves and all sort of legendary beings, including the Huldufólk, the "Hidden People".

Although there is not a common conception on their real nature or shape, it is broadly accepted that these creatures live in the underworld and keep a close relation with natural elements. More of the source describe them as being pretty similar to humans, according to the descriptions the ones who has been able to seem them offer. Syncretism comes obvious when we take a look on the possible explanations on the origin of such beings, including a vast mixture of Scandinavian, Celtic and Catholic thoughts and folklore. which later and gradually merged into a mythology corpus with a self characteristic identity.

According with those explanations, with a quite visible Catholic influence, the Huldufólk would be sons of Adan and Eve, hid from God´s look and that as a punishment, were condemned to remain invisible "What man hides from God, God will hide from man" says an ancient quotation. Some other has gone beyond and claim that Hidden people are sons of the legendary first woman, Lillith. In that order, Lillith and their outcasted sons would be a remanescence of that ancient attitude of reject what Christian moral considered to be blameworthy. Several Icelandic holidays are linked with the Huldufólk, including Christmas and Midsummer Night. It is well known that the first missionaries used to mix local traditions with those of the new Christian religion in order to achieve a faster and softer embrace of the new faith among the locals. It is still a more or less regular custom to leave food for the Huldufólk on Christmas eve, which reveals its paralelism with Scandinavian folklore, and that of the Tomte and some other elf-like creatures.

The Huldufólk use to have outstanding and suprahuman capabilities, and use to be described as behaving on extreme postures, either completely good, or absolutely evil. No mid terms are considered for describing their behaviour, resembling that ancient human dream of a nature free of the limits moral and nature impose over their weak bodies and minds. That is why despite it all, Hidden People still keeps some traits quite close to those of the humankind. They drink and have vices, born an die, and even have to work in order to get their sustain. Like Terry Gunnell wisely described them: "They are near mirror-images of those humans who told stories about them--except they were beautiful, powerful, alluring, and free from care, while the Icelanders were often starving and struggling for existence. The huldufólk seem in many ways to represent the Icelander's dreams of a more perfect and happy existence". Then again, a regular subject along diverse cultures and civilizations around the world and along history. As a matter of fact, Huldufólk and some other folkloric characters has suffered an adaptation according to the yearnings of the people of a certain period of history. During the XX century, several building projects, like that of the building of the Keflavik Airport, were altered or did obey to the ruling and "interests" of the Huldúfolk and the Landvættir, in order to not to disturb them or destroy their settlements. Moreover, Icelandic folkloric creatures are achieving a remarkable importance as object of touristic profit.

What is true is that the Hidden People and other supernatural beings, still represents a naive attempt to understand and pay homage to a land and its misterious powers, even in these times of high technology and science, it is probable that people still needs for an explanation that goes beyond the limits of the scenses and believe, for their peace of mind sake, that an agreement with the natural elements and the misteries of the world, can be achieved, in a territory where the hand of the man has no rule, and to pay homage and reverance to the land, that can be the source of both life and death.

All pics by wikicommons