Feb 25, 2009: Icelandic Elf House

sandypossum · 02-24-2009, 07:07 AM

When I was in Iceland in 2002 I saw tiny little doors on rocks beside some hills in the countryside. My host explained that Icelanders put tiny doors or tiny houses on rocks to invite elves to live in the rock. (I think it was because having an elf live there was good luck, or maybe it was to persuade them not to live in your own home - can't remember that bit).

A 1998 survey found that 54.4% of Icelanders surveyed claimed to believe in elves, or the huldufólk (“hidden people”).

My own photos of the doors, taken from a moving vehicle, are rather blurry, so I found this in Wikimedia Commons, labelled “Elf houses near Strandakirkja in south Iceland”:

This Reuters article, Elves in Modern Iceland, describes how this belief in elves can affect building plans, even when it involves building roads.

And this article from the Iceland Tourist Board website, Hollywood May Joke, but Elves are Serious Business for Icelanders, explains more about their thoughts on elves.

(PS: am I jumping ahead of time? No! Here in Fish Creek, Australia it is already the 25th of February!

)

Sheldonrs · 02-24-2009, 07:50 AM

If the elves leave does someone announce that Elvish has left the building?

Trilby · 02-24-2009, 07:59 AM

I simply adore a culture where this is possible.

I'm going to look into moving to Iceland. My youngest will be out of the nest in 18 months and I'm sick unto death of Ohio summers (they begin in May with 90 degrees and 90% and don't end until late Oct. when it begins to pour freezing rain).

I'm totally up for this. I wonder what kind of job an english major drop out can get in Iceland? Off to google..

Trilby · 02-24-2009, 08:02 AM

Never mind: found out what I can do, from article

"Our basic approach is not to deny this phenomenon," Birgir Gudmundsson, an engineer with the Iceland Road Authority, told Reuters. "We tread carefully. There are people who can negotiate with the elves, and we make use of that."

In Awe: I can MAJOR in ELF studies!!!

footfootfoot · 02-24-2009, 08:49 AM

Elf mediation, Elf negotiation, Elf labor union organizer. Bri you could be the Jimmy Hoffa of Icelandic Elfdom!

Cloud · 02-24-2009, 08:51 AM

So what's that thing on the top of the house? Mother Goose?

hipshot · 02-24-2009, 09:17 AM

Elf I know...

Trilby · 02-24-2009, 09:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by footfootfoot

Elf mediation, Elf negotiation, Elf labor union organizer. Bri you could be the Jimmy Hoffa of Icelandic Elfdom!

OSHA for the Elves...ergonomic-training, industrial hygeine, noise-pollution control (with annual hearing tests... )(those head phones will have to be down-sized considerably...)

YAY!

footfootfoot · 02-24-2009, 09:25 AM

I could be an elf General Contractor...

Coign · 02-24-2009, 10:38 AM

I would hold off moving to Iceland unless you have a large nest egg to spend there because you will not find any economic assistance like finding a job. Sadly Iceland is probably the hardest hit country by the global economy woes.

http://www.forbes.com/2009/01/26/ice...markets35.html

The big reason is because their banking system promoted their citizens to take out loans in other currencies. They would take out a car loan with 50% Icelandic dollars, 25% Euros, and 25% American dollars or some mix like that. When the economy started tanking the difference in varied currency values caused the 25% or 50% portion of the loan to become mis-valued so they would not be able to pay off that Euro loan with Icelandic dollars.

Queue cascading effect and a government that is now in the tank.

footfootfoot · 02-24-2009, 11:31 AM

It's all cool in iceland; Bjork is gonna bail 'em all out. That's what I heard.

But then what better time to go to Iceland to buy property? Even elf cribs!

Shawnee123 · 02-24-2009, 12:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by footfootfoot

I could be an elf General Contractor...

Hmmm. That might work, since you're 3 feet, you won't seem too daunting.

Trilby · 02-24-2009, 02:22 PM

I am undaunted my any nation's economic woes.

I can be poor anywhere.

dar512 · 02-24-2009, 02:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brianna

I am undaunted my any nation's economic woes.

I can be poor anywhere.

And have admirers everywhere.

Gravdigr · 02-24-2009, 04:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sheldonrs

If the elves leave does someone announce that Elvish has left the building?

Quote:

Originally Posted by hipshot

Elf I know...

1,000,000 cleverness points to each of you!!

02-24-2009, 07:07 AM	#1
sandypossum tri-continental dag hag Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Australia Posts: 247	Feb 25, 2009: Icelandic Elf House When I was in Iceland in 2002 I saw tiny little doors on rocks beside some hills in the countryside. My host explained that Icelanders put tiny doors or tiny houses on rocks to invite elves to live in the rock. (I think it was because having an elf live there was good luck, or maybe it was to persuade them not to live in your own home - can't remember that bit). A 1998 survey found that 54.4% of Icelanders surveyed claimed to believe in elves, or the huldufólk (“hidden people”). My own photos of the doors, taken from a moving vehicle, are rather blurry, so I found this in Wikimedia Commons, labelled “Elf houses near Strandakirkja in south Iceland”: This Reuters article, Elves in Modern Iceland, describes how this belief in elves can affect building plans, even when it involves building roads. And this article from the Iceland Tourist Board website, Hollywood May Joke, but Elves are Serious Business for Icelanders, explains more about their thoughts on elves. (PS: am I jumping ahead of time? No! Here in Fish Creek, Australia it is already the 25th of February! ) __________________ you're never too old to have a happy childhood

02-24-2009, 07:50 AM	#2
Sheldonrs Master Dwellar Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 4,412	If the elves leave does someone announce that Elvish has left the building? __________________ Laugh and the world laughs with you; cry and the world laughs AT you.

02-24-2009, 07:59 AM	#3
Trilby Slattern of the Swail Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 15,654	I simply adore a culture where this is possible. I'm going to look into moving to Iceland. My youngest will be out of the nest in 18 months and I'm sick unto death of Ohio summers (they begin in May with 90 degrees and 90% and don't end until late Oct. when it begins to pour freezing rain). I'm totally up for this. I wonder what kind of job an english major drop out can get in Iceland? Off to google.. __________________ In Barrie's play and novel, the roles of fairies are brief: they are allies to the Lost Boys, the source of fairy dust and ...They are portrayed as dangerous, whimsical and extremely clever but quite hedonistic. "Shall I give you a kiss?" Peter asked and, jerking an acorn button off his coat, solemnly presented it to her. —James Barrie Wimminfolk they be tricksy. - ZenGum

02-24-2009, 08:02 AM	#4
Trilby Slattern of the Swail Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 15,654	Never mind: found out what I can do, from article "Our basic approach is not to deny this phenomenon," Birgir Gudmundsson, an engineer with the Iceland Road Authority, told Reuters. "We tread carefully. There are people who can negotiate with the elves, and we make use of that." In Awe: I can MAJOR in ELF studies!!! __________________ In Barrie's play and novel, the roles of fairies are brief: they are allies to the Lost Boys, the source of fairy dust and ...They are portrayed as dangerous, whimsical and extremely clever but quite hedonistic. "Shall I give you a kiss?" Peter asked and, jerking an acorn button off his coat, solemnly presented it to her. —James Barrie Wimminfolk they be tricksy. - ZenGum Last edited by Trilby; 02-24-2009 at 08:07 AM.

02-24-2009, 08:49 AM	#5
footfootfoot To shreds, you say? Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: in the house and on the street-how many, many feet we meet! Posts: 18,449	Elf mediation, Elf negotiation, Elf labor union organizer. Bri you could be the Jimmy Hoffa of Icelandic Elfdom! __________________ The internet is a hateful stew of vomit you can never take completely seriously. - Her Fobs

02-24-2009, 08:51 AM	#6
Cloud ... Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 8,360	So what's that thing on the top of the house? Mother Goose? __________________ "Guard your honor. Let your reputation fall where it will. And outlive the bastards!"

02-24-2009, 09:17 AM	#7
hipshot Enlarged to show texture Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 80	Elf I know... __________________ "When I die, I want to go peacefully in my sleep like my grandfather. Not screaming in terror like the passengers in his car."

02-24-2009, 09:25 AM	#9
footfootfoot To shreds, you say? Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: in the house and on the street-how many, many feet we meet! Posts: 18,449	I could be an elf General Contractor... __________________ The internet is a hateful stew of vomit you can never take completely seriously. - Her Fobs

02-24-2009, 10:38 AM	#10
Coign Wanted Driver Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Vail, CO Posts: 279	I would hold off moving to Iceland unless you have a large nest egg to spend there because you will not find any economic assistance like finding a job. Sadly Iceland is probably the hardest hit country by the global economy woes. http://www.forbes.com/2009/01/26/ice...markets35.html The big reason is because their banking system promoted their citizens to take out loans in other currencies. They would take out a car loan with 50% Icelandic dollars, 25% Euros, and 25% American dollars or some mix like that. When the economy started tanking the difference in varied currency values caused the 25% or 50% portion of the loan to become mis-valued so they would not be able to pay off that Euro loan with Icelandic dollars. Queue cascading effect and a government that is now in the tank. __________________ Quoting yourself is the height of hubris. -Coign

02-24-2009, 11:31 AM	#11
footfootfoot To shreds, you say? Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: in the house and on the street-how many, many feet we meet! Posts: 18,449	It's all cool in iceland; Bjork is gonna bail 'em all out. That's what I heard. But then what better time to go to Iceland to buy property? Even elf cribs! __________________ The internet is a hateful stew of vomit you can never take completely seriously. - Her Fobs

02-24-2009, 02:22 PM	#13
Trilby Slattern of the Swail Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 15,654	I am undaunted my any nation's economic woes. I can be poor anywhere. __________________ In Barrie's play and novel, the roles of fairies are brief: they are allies to the Lost Boys, the source of fairy dust and ...They are portrayed as dangerous, whimsical and extremely clever but quite hedonistic. "Shall I give you a kiss?" Peter asked and, jerking an acorn button off his coat, solemnly presented it to her. —James Barrie Wimminfolk they be tricksy. - ZenGum

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