Monday, November 14, 2011

Creature of the Week - Huldra


Credit for picture
The Huldra is a creature from Scandinavian folklore. She is a wood nymph who guards the forests and the flocks.
Credit for picture
She looks like a beautiful young woman with long hair, from the front. But behind, the huldra is hollow, like a trunk of a tree. She also has a cow or fox tail.
Credit for picture
There have been marriages between huldras and human men. One tale tells of a man who failed to keep their engagement secret after he promised to do so. The huldra beat him with her cow’s tail until he lost his hearing and wits. In another, the huldra’s husband is treating her poorly so she straightens a burning hot horseshoe with her bare hands to remind him of her magical powers.
In “Beauty is Only Fin Deep”, my short story in Mertales, I introduce a creature that is part huldra.

6 comments:

Natalie Aguirre said...

Another awesome magical creature. What research books do you use to find them all?

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

The huldra is new to me!

E. Arroyo said...

New to me too! Thanks,

Emily R. King said...

Super cool. I've always wondered what it would be like to have a tail.

Anonymous said...

She's kind of cute. And if Avatar taught us anything about tails...

Aubrie said...

Boy, you don't want to get on the bad side of a Huldra, do you?

Feeling better today! Thanks for the well wishes.