Long before trolls became synonymous with abhorrent pot-stirring sociopaths on the Internet, they were popularly known as mythical creatures who roamed the ancestral lands – mountains, forests, bridges, etc. Many parts of the world have tales of troll-like monsters deeply rooted in their culture but trolls are undeniably most prevalent in Scandinavian mythology and folklore.

Overview

Book cover of an early edition of Asbjornsen and Moe’s Norske Folkeeventyr

Since time immemorial, trolls have heavily featured in Scandinavian folk tales, so much so that they have become part of Scandinavian heritage. Take Norway for example. In the 1830s, two guys named Asbjornsen and Moe, who were pretty much the Norwegian version of the German Grimm Brothers, scoured the whole of Southern Norway in a quest to compile tales from native folklore. A large part of the stories collected were about trolls.

Like the Grimm Brothers, they enjoyed huge success with their compendium of folk tales and their compilation is still a staple for Norwegian children today. In fact, trolls are so ingrained in Norwegian culture that it is common to see not only troll statues or miniatures at every other corner but also places and facilities named “Troll”. It really does say a lot that the only car ever produced by Norway was named the Troll.

Origins

Ymir suckles from the cow Auðumbla while she licks Búri from the ice in a painting by Nicolai Abildgaard (1790) inspired by the Prose Edda narrative

Ironically, despite being so infamous, little is known about the origins of trolls and their history remains rather ambiguous. That being said, there are two prevailing tales which are frequently repeated as the genesis of trolls. One is gleaned from bits and pieces of old Norse legends whilst the other is derived from records of early Christian missionaries.

According to countless tales in Norse mythology, the first troll was “Ymir”, the oldest creature of the Norse universe. Ymir hailed from the Jotuns, thus trolls are also said to be descended from the Jotun. The Jotun were a race very similar to the Titans of ancient Greece.

Like many mystical creatures, their appearance varies depending on which story one reads. In some accounts, the Jotun are certainly troll like, with multiple heads, deformed bodies and claws as well as fangs. However, there are equally contrasting descriptions of the Jotun as being aesthetically beautiful. They were sworn enemies of the Norse Gods and legend has it that they are destined to face each other in an epic battle to settle the score once and for all on Judgement Day.

Illustration of Thor, Norse God of Thunder hurling his mystical hammer at a Jotun

However, trolls did not share their forefathers’ enthusiasm for a bloodbath with the Norse Gods. On contrary, they were the ones who no longer cared about fighting a battle of good versus evil on Judgment Day. In fact, early Scandinavian folklore tends to highlight the trolls’ preference for isolation over picking fights, and their tendency to avoid contact especially with humans. Some even go on to describe how trolls hate being disturbed, to the extent of gobbling up anyone unlucky enough to stumble upon them.

A darker account of the origins of trolls can be found in a Christian demonological doctrine written by the Bishop of Linkoping, Erichus Johannes Prytz around 1632. It set out the premise that trolls were fallen angels – angels who had been expelled from heaven and:

“landed in the mountains are called mountain trolls, the ones in forests are called forest trolls, forest nymphs, elves and so on and so forth.”

Based on this theory, trolls are alluded to as being devious in nature with no proper fixed form. They essentially assume whatever form necessary to lead people to damnation, be it as alluringly beautiful or hideously sly creatures.

Statue of a fallen angel

Appearance

Following the conflicting trend of their ancestry, descriptions of trolls are also divided, from being plain and repulsive to having enchantingly beautiful physiques.

Across Scandinavian folklore, male trolls are predominantly described as having a human-like form but with one or more grotesque features, e.g. a big protruding nose, a big belly, long breasts, deformed bodies, disproportionate limbs, enormous feet, a crooked back or even several heads. For instance, folktales in Ebeltoft, Denmark describe trolls as man-eating ogres with humps on their backs and wearing pointed red caps. In Gudmanstrup, Denmark, which is a couple of miles away from Ebeltoft, trolls are described as giants devoid of humps and wearing long black clothes. In certain regions of Scandinavia, trolls are said to be smaller, almost dwarf-like and more sinister looking.

To put things into perspective, the following are some common artistic impressions of trolls based on Scandinavian mythology and folklore.

In the case of female trolls or “trollkoner”, there are some who look like their male counterparts but in general, Trollknoner are usually described as being hauntingly beautiful but with a catch. Such beauty either comes with a hidden abnormality or is merely an illusory front to a hideously deformed appearance.

A perfect illustration of this is the “Huldra” or “Tallemaja” in Swedish, who are troll-like women living in the woods. Described as being enchanting and wildly beautiful, the Huldra looks exactly like a female human being but for a long cow’s tail (or at times, fox tail), which she would naturally hide upon meeting any human. In some tales, her back is said to be a hollowed-out tree or covered in tree bark.

Illustration of a Huldra

Some legends claim that the Huldra is friendly if approached properly. On a good day, she might even offer advice such as where the best fishing spots are located. In others tales, she is an evil seductress who either entraps young men to marry her or leads them to a horrible death.

The existence of the Huldra can be traced all the way back to the time of Adam and Eve. According to legend, Adam and Eve had many children after being cast out from the Garden of Eden. One day, while Eve was bathing all her children, God came to visit. For some reason, Eve felt compelled to lie to God about having finished bathing her children. She even hid those who were still dirty.

Upon hearing Eve’s answer, God proclaimed, “Then let all that is hidden, remain hidden.” The unlucky hidden children became “De Underjordiske” (the ones living underground), lost souls condemned to live under the surface of the earth. Huldra is said to be one of the De Underjordiske, but for reasons undisclosed, she remained above the ground albeit confined mostly to the forests.

Illustration of a Nisse

Some insist that there is a third category of trolls at play, namely the “Nisser” or “Tomte” in Swedish. They are humanoid and dwarf-like but with none of the grotesque features. Some say that the Nisser are not trolls per se but a type of ancient ancestral spirit. However, due to early inaccurate romanised translations, they debuted as trolls or goblins to the English-speaking world and have since been stuck with that categorisation.

In essence, the Nisser are usually responsible for the protection and welfare of the farmstead and its buildings. They are described as older, little men about the height of a young child, although they can change their size at will, from that of a five-year-old child to a thumb. They are also said to have the ability to become invisible.

According to Swedish folklore, Nisser are often garbed in ragged clothes, usually gray or navy blue, but sport bright red caps on their heads. The folktale also advises that it is better to leave them dressed that way. The story goes that upon being provided new clothes by a farmer’s wife (out of kindness), a Nisse deemed himself too elegant to perform any more farm labour and thus disappeared from the farm.

Statue of a Nisse/Tomte in the streets of Stockholm, Sweden

The Nisser require very little in exchange for taking care of the farm, its livestock, the welfare of the farmer and his family. They demand only the respect as well as the trust of the farmer and a bowl of “Julegrot” (Christmas porridge) with butter on Christmas Eve. It is commonplace for farmers to place bowls of rice porridge on their doorsteps for the Nisser, just like how cookies and milk are put out for Santa Claus. The Nisser are also said to fulfil the role played by Santa Claus in Western Christmas traditions i.e. delivering presents to the family on Christmas Eve.

Illustration of a Vittra

Another deserving creature worth a mention is the “Vittra” from Sweden. Although technically not categorised as a troll, in the north of Sweden, the Vittra is considered the equivalent of the troll and Tomte of the south.

The Vittra is said to prefer living underground tending to cattle rather than meddling in human affairs. However, they have been known to surface and “borrow” cattle from time to time, usually under a cloak of invisibility. The good news (for the owner) is that the “returned” cattle usually had the ability to give more milk, believed to be a sign of gratitude from the Vittra.

However, they are also known to be very vindictive if offended or disrespected, and will do whatever it takes to make their target miserable, to the extent of conjuring accidents that can harm or kill. Interestingly, one can tell the mood of a Vittra from its appearance. They will often be red if unhappy and white if they are in good mood.

Interesting Characteristics

Despite their different categorisations, the following are some common characteristics attributable to trolls.

Intellectually Challenged or Cunning Tricksters

In general, large trolls are portrayed as brutish and less intellectual while human- and smaller-sized trolls are more sophisticated than their bigger counterparts. Thus, gigantic trolls are usually made out to be stupid and dangerous. They are also constantly being outsmarted by the heroes.

The tale of the “Three Billy Goats Gruff” demonstrates that even goats are capable of outwitting trolls. The story tells of how the two weaker goats managed to cross the bridge by tricking the troll into not eating them and instead, to wait for the last goat on the pretext that he was the plumpest of them all. In fact, the last goat was the strongest of the lot and best placed to defend against the troll. The troll ended up being gutted to death by the last goat when the troll tried to eat it.

There are also tales in which trolls employ trickery to lure humans to their lair to do their bidding. A typical example of this is the Huldra.

Illustration of a Brunnmigi

Trolls can also be cruel tricksters. Take for example the “Brunnmigi”, a peculiar class of troll whose only claim to fame is peeing into wells and fountains. Whilst the classic Norse legend is unclear as to why the Brunnmigi adopted this behaviour, they somehow managed to convince the Great Sea-King Hrolfr and his men to voluntarily gather and drink water from a well that the Brunnmigi were soiling.

Vindictive and Vain but (interestingly) with Integrity

Many folktales reveal how heroes have capitalised on the vanity of trolls in order to escape. One popular example is the tale of “Boots Who Ate a Match With The Troll”. In essence, the hero, Askeladden, escaped the troll by boasting of his ability to cut open his stomach to make room for more food. Of course, unknown to the troll, Askeladden only slit open the backpack which he had worn in front of his chest earlier. Too proud to be outdone, the troll proceeded to slit open his own stomach and perished from the self-inflicted wound.

Depiction of a scene from the tale of “Boots Who Ate a Match With The Troll”

Capitalising on their vanity works even when dealing with trolls of a higher intellect. This is apparent in a folktale from Tiveden. A boy on a fishing trip was down on his luck when he chanced upon a Huldra. Upon noticing a fox’s tail sticking out below the maiden’s skirt, he bowed deeply and said politely in a soft voice, “Milady, I see that your petticoat shows below your skirt“. The maiden thanked him gracefully and shuffling her tail back under her skirt, she told the boy to go fish on the other side of the lake. From that day onwards, the boy never failed to catch a fish every time he threw out the line. This was the Huldra’s reward for his politeness.

This is possibly the origin of the strong belief that if by chance you notice a tail or hairy feet etc. under the dress of a Huldra, you should discreetly and politely make her aware of this in order to be generously rewarded.

A Nisse with a bowl of its favourite food, porridge

Naturally, if you are rude, offensive or have somehow managed to upset a troll, you would have to pay for it one way or another. A drastic example of this can be seen in the tale of a starving servant girl who ate the porridge set out for a Nisse. Obviously upset from being deprived of his porridge, the troll took his revenge by causing the servant girl to dance ceaselessly until she died.

Another interesting troll trait gleaned from folklore is that they will keep their end of the bargain even when they are on the losing end. This can be seen in the story of Esbern, who was facing huge problems in his romantic life. The father of the girl he loved would only consent to their marriage if Esbern first constructed a rather large church. Whilst mulling over his dilemma, he chanced upon a troll who agreed to build the church for Esbern. The catch was that the troll would get Esbern’s eyes and soul if Esbern could not discover the troll’s name by the time the job was done.

Things looked bleak for Esbern – the construction of the church was almost completed and he had exhausted all his avenues but still was not able to uncover the troll’s name. Luckily for him, at the last minute, he revealed his dilemma to the girl he loved and she proceeded to pray for him. Her prayers worked as Esbern then overheard the troll’s wife singing to her baby, and the lyrics included the name of her husband. Esber wiped the smug smile off the troll’s face when he correctly gave the troll’s name upon completion of the church. Frustrated by the turn of events, the troll left in a huff whilst Esbern enjoyed his happily ever after.

Magical Powers and Shapeshifting

Stone troll by John Bauer

It is clear from Scandinavian folklore that certain trolls have magical powers. To name but a few;

• Nisser have the ability to change their size at will
• Huldras are believed to have the power of hypnosis at their disposal
• Nisser and Vittra have the power of invisibility
• Trolls are said to be able to travel on the winds
• Trolls can sneak into houses undetected
• Some trolls can transform themselves into logs or stubs. It is said that if you take out your knife and cut into them, they will run away as they cannot stand the touch of steel.
• Some trolls can morph into animate objects like cats, dogs or snakes and even inanimate objects like a rolling ball of synthetic fibres
• Some trolls can inflict illnesses on people. Whilst usually a form of retribution, some randomly shoot magical projectiles laced with diseases.
• It is also said that trolls have a special influence on children, hence the belief that children’s clothes are not to be left outside at night lest the trolls gain access to their minds.

The magical powers of trolls also encompass the creation of monsters. A vicar, Mogens Pedersen, recorded in 1635 that two trolls were responsible for the creation of Storsjöodjuret, a huge serpent-like sea monster said to be dwelling in Lake Storsjön, the 5^th largest lake in Sweden. Legend has it that the trolls Jata and Kata were brewing a potion in their cauldron on the shores of the lake. They didn’t really know what they were doing but after years of brewing, a black sea serpent leapt from the cauldron and dived into the lake. It is said to have grown to an enormous size, entirely surrounding the island of Frösön. To date, there have been over 200 reported sightings of the creature, and a group has been established to investigate reports from witnesses and to collate information on the monster.

Lake Storsjön

Aversion to Sunlight

With a few exceptions, trolls generally have a strong aversion to sunlight. They are said to turn to stone when exposed to sunlight, thus it is no wonder that certain trolls avoid sunlight like the plague. In fact, many rocky outcrops around the Scandinavian mountains are said to be attributable to trolls. To name but a few;

• Trold-Tindterne (Troll Peaks) – The stone crags of Trold-Tindterne in central Norway are said to be two armies of trolls that once fought a great battle until sunrise caught them and turned them to stone.

One of the stone crags of Trold-Tindterne (Troll Peaks) in central Norway

• Hvítserkur – Legend goes that Hvítserkur, found at the Vatnsnes peninsula in North-West Iceland, is actually a petrified troll. The troll was en route to tear down the church bell of a nearby convent when he got caught by daylight and turned into stone.

Hvítserkur in North-West Iceland

• Reynisdrangar – The basalt rock formations known as Reynisdrangar in Iceland are said to be former trolls who were caught in the sunlight as they tried to drag their ship ashore and were turned forever to stone.

Reynisdrangar in Iceland

Hidden Treasures

Hidden treasures

It is generally accepted that trolls who lived in the mountains were wealthier than their forest-dwelling counterparts. Laying one’s hands on these treasures was one of the chief rewards of getting the better of trolls.

In addition, folklore suggests that one should not be too hasty in disposing of worthless things given by a troll. As trolls lived in a mirror-like world, what was dirt on one world would be gold on another – so that worthless thing might just later turn out to be a priceless treasure.

Beyond the Scandinavian sphere

Philippines: Duwende Puti and Duwende Itim

Illustration of a Duwende

These tiny humanoid underground creatures comprise of “Duwende Puti” and “Duwende Itim”. They are polar opposites in that Duwende Puti are kind creatures who bring about good luck. Duwende Itim on the other hand are mean folk who love to play pranks on humans. However, both are adamant about respecting nature. Whilst they generally keep to themselves, they will make themselves known when their environment is disturbed.

For example, someone who kicked an anthill on or near the home of a Duwende Itim would be punished with a myriad of ailments from twisted mouth to swollen testicles. In contrast, a kindly farmer who took care of his plot would be rewarded by the Duwende Puti with a greater abundance of crops than usual. According to folklore, reciting “Tabi-tabi po” aloud before entering what might be their space is the best way to avoid offending the Duwende.

Germany: Dwarves

In German mythology, dwarves more or less occupy the same position as the Scandinavian troll. They are usually described as subterranean beings who dwell in the mountains and in the earth, and are associated with smithing, mining, and crafting. It is believed that they can become invisible and are often hostile. However, like trolls, they can do good deeds in return for kindness.

Japan: Oni

Statue of a Japanese Oni

The Oni is humanoid in form with grotesque unnatural features. They are often described as hideous, gigantic creatures with sharp claws, wild hair, and two long horns growing from their heads. The colour of their skin varies but is commonly depicted as red or blue. Wearing tiger skin loincloths and carrying an iron club (Kanabo), they generally go around terrorising people.

Greenland: Troll

In the folktales of the Inuit people of Greenland, trolls are huge, hairy beasts with enormous bellies that drag on the ground as they walk. They roam around the uninhabited hills looking for unsuspecting travellers to capture with their long dagger-like fingernails and eat.

Malevolent or Benevolent?

If one were to comb through Scandinavian mythology and folklore, it appears that prior to the introduction of Christianity, trolls were not inherently seen as evil. They had similar temperaments to human beings and although they could wreak more havoc when offended, they were not stigmatised with links to the devil.

In fact, trolls were viewed as neutral beings in the sense that they were neither out to get humans nor was it their primary objective to harm although they would not hesitate to do so to satisfy their needs. However, some trolls are believed to be fiercely protective of nature and to show great affection for animals.

Protectors of the Environment

Troll folklore shows that some trolls are very protective of the forest. In fact, they are portrayed as protective nature spirits defending the forest against human greed.

A classic example is the popular Norwegian tale of “Boots who ate a match with the troll” where the troll repeatedly said “This is my forest. No chopping in my forest. I’m gonna eat you up” before gobbling up the first two victims. Granted, the troll did have a vested interest in protecting its home, but the folktale also emphasised its respect for nature.

Illustration of a Bysen

The Baltic island of Gotland is said to be home to a ghostlike troll i.e. the Bysen. They are said to be humans who committed some crime during their lifetime and now are condemned to walk the earth forever. These dwarven grey creatures roam the forests with an axe, carefully chopping trees or branches and generally maintaining and protecting the forests. They make life difficult for forest workers with a range of tricks including turning over timber loads, causing machinery to malfunction and delaying transports of timber.

These protective traits are also apparent in Norwegian, Danish and Swedish folktales relating to charcoal kilns built in forests. Charcoal kilns were not only fire hazards but also disruptive and a threat to forest creatures. One story tells of a Huldra seducing a lonely charcoal burner, thus preventing him from guarding the kiln’s fire and causing the destruction of the entire kiln.

Huldra and charcoal burner by Svenska Folksagner (1882)

There is another version involving a worker who rescued a beautiful maiden lost in the forest. He brought her back to his forest cabin, located next to a charcoal kiln, for a night of passion as his reward for rescuing her. The maiden’s only condition was that he not look out of the window while they were intimate. He looked anyway and was shocked to discover that she was none other than a Huldra and was extinguishing the kiln’s fire with her tail while distracting him. He ran away and never returned.

Yet another variation tells of a fair maiden who showed up one late evening at the doorstep of a worker in charge of guarding the fire at a charcoal kiln in the forest. In exchange for food and shelter, the maiden agreed to the worker’s demand that she bed him on two conditions. The first was for him to never tell another soul of their night of passion and the other was for him to not look out of the cabin window while they were together. The rest of the story is the same except that he returned to the site the next morning, only to discover that the charcoal kiln and his forest cabin were completely destroyed.

Huldra are also often said to be connected with Frau Holda (or Frau Holle), the German protectress of agriculture and the goddess of women’s crafts.

Early sketch of the German protectress of agriculture and goddess of women’s crafts, Frau Holda, entitled Frau Holda’s Paradise

There are also numerous tales of trolls taking action against those disrespecting or disturbing nature. An example is the Scandinavian tale of a man named Jon. Jon spent his days fishing to the point of excessiveness. One day, as he was fishing, he heard a cry coming from the mountain.

“Can I borrow your pot?”
“What do you want with that?” a voice replied from the other side of the lake.
“I want to cook Jon, who always fishes in the lake.”

The lake voice agreed to the loan of his pot on condition that he got Jon’s boat. When Jon heard the first voice replying “You will get both his shoes and his boat”, he quickly left the lake never to return.

These phenomena are not limited to the wilderness. Lack of respect for the land such as irresponsible farming is also subjected to the ire of trolls. Nisser in particular have a tendency to punish lazy farmers with misfortune, as can be seen in a number of Scandinavian folktales, especially if the farmer is lacking in care or disruptive to the troll’s work for the household and farm.

Animal Activists

Trolls could possibly be the earliest advocates of animal rights. There are a number of folktales which reveal their care for animals and their non-tolerance of animal abuse. One such prominent illustration is the tale of “The Nisse Who Stole Fodder”. In short, a farmer lamented about not having any hay left for his farm animals when he heard an untraceable voice assuring him of hay supply. After a few days, he noticed his animals were thriving although they had no food. As it turns out, a Nisse was helping the farmer by fetching hay for his animals every night.

Depiction of a Nisse lovingly feeding a horse

In some places, trolls are also believed to have the power to bless or heal animals. This is most likely fanned by stories that tell of animals (mostly cattle and sheep) under the care of trolls which yield bigger and better produce e.g. the case of cattle being enhanced after being “borrowed” by Vittra. There are even tales of people attempting to steal these animals or bargaining with trolls for the right to interbreed these animals with normal livestock to produce a more profitable breed.

Post-Christianity

It would not be farfetched to say that the diminishing influence of trolls is commensurate with the growth of Christianity in Scandinavia. The early Christians first adopted a strong stance and focused on demonising the trolls. However, when it became clear that the local beliefs were deeply entrenched, they changed tack. Disparagement thus became one of the main ways used by Christians to devalue the value of the old, pagan beliefs.

Slowly but surely, reverence for pagan beings such as trolls was chipped away through changing the way they were portrayed. From powerful ancient beings, they became harmless low-brow creatures. For instance, the dangerous and powerful mountain troll as depicted in the Poetic Edda (the leading source of Norse mythology) was made easy to fool by heroes such as Askeladden in subsequent folktales. As a result, trolls were systematically driven farther and farther away from the human sphere and reduced to intangible fantasy beings.

Conclusion

Present day depictions of trolls range from cute to off-beat to downright sinister. From neon-haired troll dolls with jewelled belly buttons to the inherently evil servants of Sauron, Dark Lord of Mordor, modern trolls have completed departed from their folkloric roots and mutated into a different kind of supernatural creature.

However, stories get told and retold and it is possible that people will eventually be reminded of the primal force of these creatures of legend. After all, trolls and other mythological creatures are in essence evidence of our ancestors’ vivid encounters with nature elementals. Some may write trolls off as products of the imagination, but always bear in mind that they be none other than a remnant of a long-lost reality.

 
Source/references:

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Troll
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nisse_(folklore)
• https://owlcation.com/social-sciences/troll-of-norway
• http://users.skynet.be/fa023784/trollmoon/TrollBlog/trollblog.html
• http://powderroom.kinja.com/a-brief-history-of-trolls-1704983550
• Christian Demonology And Popular Mythology, Gábor Klaniczay, Éva Pócs, Eszter Csonka-Takács, CEU Press, Central European University Press, 2006
• http://www.mythicalcreaturesguide.com/page/Huldra
• http://www.ingebretsens.com/culture/traditions/legend-of-nisse-and-tomte
• http://www.snowintromso.com/blog/2016/12/norwegian-trolls-and-folklore
• http://www.hf.uio.no/ikos/english/services/knowledge/norwegian-folklore/folktales-and-legends/
• http://users.skynet.be/fa023784/trollmoon/TrollBlog/files/category-troll-painters.html

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