fairytale friday and scandanavia

King Olof and The Little People by W. J. Wiegand

Scandinavian
The Norwegians call the Elves Huldrafolk.
The little underground Elves, who are believed to dwell 
under the houses of mankind, are described as sportive 
and mischievous, and as imitating all the actions of men. 
They are said to love cleanliness about the house and place, 
and to reward such servants as are neat and. cleanly.  

The Elves are extremely fond of dancing in the meadows, 
where they form those circles of a livelier green which from 
them are called Elf-dance (Elfdans).  When the country 
people see the morning stripes along the dewy grass in the 
woods and meadows, they say the Elves have been 
dancing there.  If any one should at midnight get within 
their circle, they become visible to him, and they may then 
elude him.  It is not every one that can see the Elves; 
and one person may see them dancing while another 
perceives nothing.  Sunday children, as they are called,  
i.e. those born on Sunday, are remarkable for possessing this 
property of seeing Elves and similar beings.  The Elves, however, 
have the power to bestow this gift on whomsoever they please. 
People also used to speak of Elf-books which they gave to those 
whom they loved, and which enabled them to foretell future events.
The Elves often sit in little stones that are of a circular form, 
and are called Elf-mills (Elf-quärnor); the sound of their voice 
is said to be sweet and soft like the air.

Sir Olof he rode out at early day,
And so came he unto an Elve-dance gay.
The dance it goes well,
So well in the grove.

The Elve-father reached out his white hand free,
"Come, come, Sir Olof, tread the dance with me."
The dance it goes well,
So well in the grove.

"O nought I will, and nought I may,
To-morrow will be my wedding-day.'
The dance it goes well,
So well in the grove.

And the Elve-mother reached out her white hand free,
"Come, come, Sir Olof, tread the dance with me."
The dance it goes well,
So well in the grove.

"O nought I will, and nought I may,
To-morrow will be my wedding-day."
The dance.it goes well,
So well in the grove.

And the Elve-sister reached out her white hand free,
"Come, come, Sir Olof, tread the dance with me."
The dance it goes well,
So well in the grove.

"O nought I will, and nought I may,
To-morrow will be my wedding-day."
The dance it goes well,
So well in the grove.

And the bride she spake with her bride-maids so,
"What may it mean that the bells thus go?"
The dance it goes well,
So well in the grove.

"Tis the custom of this our isle," they replied;
"Each young swain ringeth home his bride."
The dance it goes well,
So well in the grove.

"And the truth from you to conceal I fear,
Sir Olof is dead, and lies on his bier."
The dance it goes well,
So well in the grove.

And on the morrow, ere light was the day,
In Sir Olof's house three corpses lay.
The dance it goes well,
So well in the grove.

 It was Sir Olof, his bonny bride,
 And eke his mother, of sorrow she died.
 The dance it goes well,
 So well in the grove.

Svenska Visor, iii. 158, as sung iii Upland and East Gothland

follett and the lore they adore

A Follett is a creature of the night, seemingly anthropomorphic small, established by tradition and popular beliefs of certain French regions.  Throughout the centuries these Little Peoples have been mixed with the Mediterranean and Nordic, thus giving rise to a European folklore.  Although the names Follet, Lutin and Fee are  often used interchangeably, the elves they represent belong to quite different groups.
The name Follet is used primarily for the descendants of elves who lived in the once-bustling underground  dolmen metropolises.  As these elf cities lost their strength and power, the Follets moved away and came more and more under the influence of human beings.  Perhaps because of their long association with humans, the Follets cannot be driven away by exorcisms or holy water but continue their pranks right under the nose of history.  They are a merry, independent group and know no masters.  The only thing they fear is steel, and a good strong knife often drives them away.  
Humans who have the patience to withstand their high jinks and who do not give way to anger and retribution earn the respect of these Little People.  As proof of their friendship, the Follets bring presents, complete unfinished work, and feed and pasture the animals.  Their lore spans through the ages and most prominent in France.  They do live in underground caves, sea or land caverns, and among dunes.  Their dress is in multi-colored coats covered with tiny bells.  Usually between one and two feet high, their animal form is a goat and their passage into homes is through the cat doors or chimneys.

images above from Brian Froud, myself, and W. F. Wiegard