The hidden people of Iceland

Fueling the imagination

Icelandic culture is inspired by a curious mixture of paganism, Irish lore, and Christianity. Throw in a fantastical volcanic landscape full of geysers and rocks in twisted shapes and it’s not hard to guess why Icelandic folk tales are ripe with mysticism and supernatural beings.

Traditional tales of ghosts, elves, and trolls have been told to children from generation to generation, even as far back as the Vikings. Portrayed at times as friendly and other times as menacing, these eerie beings are featured in cautionary tales that effective warn the young against wandering off into the dangerous wilderness alone.

The Huldufólk

The most iconic creatures from Icelandic and Faroese folklore are probably Huldufólk, or the ‘hidden people’. The term Huldufólk is a synonym to the word Álfar, which means ‘elf.’ Some Icelanders believe that elves and hidden people are actually two separate beings, while most think they’re the same. According to Icelandic folklore, calling elves by their real name is bad luck, so Huldufólk was created as a euphemism.

It’s difficult to trace the exact origin of the first elf stories, but they appear described in the Prose Edda, an Old Norse textbook, compiled by Snorri Sturluson in 1220. The Prose Edda even distinguishes between dökkálfar (dark elves) and ljósálfar (light elves), representing a duality of good and evil.

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Photo: Genna Roland, Hurtigruten and Burben_Shutterstock

Iceland’s invisible communities

Either way, they are thought to be very protective of their homes. They prefer to stay invisible to humans, only showing themselves when they feel like it. When they do reveal themselves, descriptions of their appearance vary from looking almost identical to humans to usually being quite small in size.

It’s said that they lead a life similar to our own, but one that reflects lives lived in Iceland centuries ago, with families, houses, cattle, and churches. In many tales, they’re said to have magical powers that can be used for both good and evil. Be careful: They use these powers depending on how you treat them. General advice is to leave them alone and let them go about their day, and they will do the same to you.

Real residents

These stories and their unique characters are an integral part of Icelandic culture. Centuries of imagination have brought them to life, making them real in the minds of many modern-day Icelanders. One example of this is the widely held superstition against throwing rocks, just in case they hit the hidden people or their dwellings and cause trouble.

A number of urban legends tell the tales of construction jobs that had to be shut down after several strange accidents occurred when trying to clear or build on land said to belong to the elves. These unusual happenings are so common that the Icelandic Road and Coastal Administration has created a five-page ‘standard reply’ for press inquiries about elves.

Exploring the Land of the Elves

When hiking in the Icelandic countryside or visiting local communities, you’ll see tiny elf houses (‘álfhól’) in several places. We can’t guarantee you’ll meet any elves, but we can promise a unique landscape that will exude magic and mystique. You may also visit several hot spots where elves are said to reside. Perhaps you’ll even catch a glimpse of one ...