Elves — Light and dark beings in Nordic folklore

In the folklore of the Vikings and the Nordic peoples , elves played an important role in everyday life. Elves were often divided into light elves who lived in bright, beautiful places and spread happiness, and dark elves who lived underground or in forests and could be dangerous to humans.

Light elves were associated with prosperity, health, and fertility , while dark elves could cause illness, misfortune, or confusion if disrespected. Vikings and Norse farmers sometimes placed offerings at elf mounds or springs to appease the elves and ensure safety, harvest, and good health.

Elves and runes

In some cases , runes from the Younger Futhark were carved on objects or graves to enhance protection against dangerous elves or to welcome the blessing of the Light Elves . Examples of runes:

• ᚠ (fé) – for wealth and happiness, often linked to prosperity in the home and farm.
• ᚢ (úr) – strength and courage, for protection against dangers in nature.

Elves in today's culture

Stories about elves live on today in fairy tales, books, films and games , influencing how we view nature and magical beings. Many traditions, from Midsummer celebrations to folklore stories about the essence of nature, have their roots in the belief in elves and their influence on human everyday life.

The importance of elves shows how the everyday life and folk beliefs of the Vikings and Nordic peoples were interconnected – respect for the forces of nature and invisible beings influenced both work, social relationships and ritual actions.