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Supernatural Iceland: Trolls
Welcome to Supernatural Iceland! In this episode we’re looking at Trolls, one of the most famous otherworldly inhabitants of Iceland. Trolls are generally described as being dumb, unruly, wild, greedy and cruel – but in the Folklores of Iceland there are also…
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Supernatural Iceland: Christmas Bonus Episode
Welcome to this SPECIAL BONUS EPISODE of Supernatural Iceland! For a extra dose of winter cheer we’re bringing you all you need to know about Iceland’s festive folklore. But be warned, like a lot of Iceland’s traditions, it’s less ‘comfort and joy’…
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Supernatural Iceland: Monsters
Welcome to Supernatural Iceland! Join Valur Grettisson, editor-in-chief of Reykjavík Grapevine, as he explores the world of folklore, other-worldly visits and strange happenings in Iceland. Meet ghosts, ghouls, goblins and even UFOs as we travel around the country seeking out the the…
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Possible Cryptid Filmed In Iceland(?)
A rather strange video was posted on Instagram yesterday, depicting what could be interpreted as a possible cryptid in Iceland (a cryptid being a creature whose existence and origins are mysterious and as of yet unknown such as the Loch Ness monster).…
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Rejoice, Spring Has Finally Sprung: The Lóa Lands In Iceland
As everyday life for humans slowly begins to grind to a halt, the arrival of Iceland’s cherished harbinger of spring, the golden plover, is a small reminder in uncertain times that nature’s cycle continues as ever. The first Lóa, or golden plover,…
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Strange As Folklore: Snorri Helgason Brings Icelandic Myths To Life
His fingers gently pluck on an acoustic guitar, while his warm and magnetic voice plucks on your heartstrings. Reykjavík-based singer-songwriter Snorri Helgason released his new album ‘Margt býr í þokunni’ in December of last year, and it’s the perfect music for a…
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On The Road: Hjörleifshöfði
As you drive the ring road towards Vík and Höfn, you’ll see some intriguing “inland islands” towering up from the flat coastal lands along the way. One of the most prominent of these is Hjörleifshöfði—a 221m tuff island that rises from the…
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Monster Of The Month: Dvergur, The Dwarf
Although the Prose Edda refers to dwarfs as being a kind of elf race, a clear distinction is made in folklore. Dwarfs appear in numerous adventures and chivalric tales. They are excellent craftsmen, dependable and loyal to their friends but extremely vengeful…
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Monster Of The Month: Ljósálfur, The Light-Elf
“Elves are the noblest and most distinguished of all earthly creatures. Their similarity to us humans is such that when one hears of light-elves—that most gentle breed of elves—one can not help but think that they are our long-dead kinsmen and forefathers,…
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Monster Of The Month: Fjörulabbi, The Shore Laddie
Inhabitants in the Westfjords often catch sight of an animal emerging from the sea and onto the shore. Some believe it to be a sea otter, but the locals refer to it, as previously mentioned, as a shore laddie. They say that…
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Readers’ Huldu-fólktales
Since our Hidden People issue came out on Friday, readers have been submitting their own elf-encounter tales left and right. Here are a couple of the submissions we’ve received so far; send us yours at grapevine@grapevine.is and we’ll add to the collection!…