Nordic folklore

Nordic folklore is the folklore of Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Iceland and the Faroe Islands. It has common roots with, and has been mutually influenced by, folklore in England, Germany, the Low Countries, the Baltic countries, Finland and Sapmi. Folklore is a concept encompassing expressive traditions of a particular culture or group. The peoples of Scandinavia are heterogenous, as are the oral genres and material culture that has been common in their lands. However, there are some commonalities across Scandinavian folkloric traditions, among them a common ground in elements from Norse mythology as well as Christian conceptions of the world. Among the many tales common in Scandinavian oral traditions, some have become known beyond Scandinavian borders – examples include The Three Billy Goats Gruff and The Giant Who Had No Heart in His Body. The Faroe Islands are a small archipelago located in the North Atlantic Ocean, between Iceland and Norway. The islands have a long and rich history, dating back to at least the Viking Age. The Faroese people are descended from the Vikings, and their culture and folklore reflect this heritage. Faroese folklore is a rich and varied tapestry, woven from a variety of sources. The Vikings brought their own myths and legends with them to the Faroes, and these were later supplemented by stories from other cultures, such as the Celts. The Faroese people also have a strong oral tradition, and many stories have been passed down from generation to generation by word of mouth. Some of the most common folk traditions in the Faroe Islands: Kvæði (Ballads): Kvæði are Faroese ballads, which are typically long and epic in nature. They often tell stories of Faroese history, mythology, and folklore. Rúnir (Runes): Runes are a type of writing system that was used by the Vikings. Runes are still used in the Faroe Islands today, and they are often used to decorate objects such as jewelry and furniture. Føroyskur dansur (Dance) The dance in itself only consists in holding each other's hands, while the dancers form a circle.

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Related concepts (20)

Nordic folklore

Heathenry (new religious movement)

Heathenry, also termed Heathenism, contemporary Germanic Paganism, or Germanic Neopaganism, is a modern Pagan religion. Scholars of religious studies classify it as a new religious movement. Developed in Europe during the early 20th century, its practitioners model it on the pre-Christian religions adhered to by the Germanic peoples of the Iron Age and Early Middle Ages. In an attempt to reconstruct these past belief systems, Heathenry uses surviving historical, archaeological, and folkloric evidence as a basis, although approaches to this material vary considerably.

Norse mythology

Norse, Nordic, or Scandinavian mythology is the body of myths belonging to the North Germanic peoples, stemming from Old Norse religion and continuing after the Christianization of Scandinavia, and into the Nordic folklore of the modern period. The northernmost extension of Germanic mythology and stemming from Proto-Germanic folklore, Norse mythology consists of tales of various deities, beings, and heroes derived from numerous sources from both before and after the pagan period, including medieval manuscripts, archaeological representations, and folk tradition.