Believing in elves

Throughout my years of living abroad I've had many discussions about cultures and traditions. By this time, there are few questions about Icelandic culture that I haven't heard or don´t know how to respond to. However, there's one recurring question that I've never quite known how to answer properly.

Do you believe in elves?

Now, I've never really known what to say to that. My answer has never been no. But a simple yes doesn't quite cut it because if you tell people that yes, you are a highly educated and rationally thinking adult who really does believe in magical people living in rocks, it usually requires some follow-up explanations and proof that a) you're not on drugs or  b) you don't suffer from illusions caused by mental illness.

I've always found this follow-up part to be a bit tricky and I'm very sure that I'm not the only person I know who feels that way. But I think I've finally managed to put my belief into words, something that makes sense and proves to me that my belief is actually pretty rational (or at least as rational as I can make it).

First, if you don't know much about elves, here's a little crash course with the basics:

Elves are also known as huldufólk or hidden people. They mostly live in rocks but are also known to live in cliffs and hills. Their homes have played a large role in Icelandic culture for the past centuries as elf dwellings should not be disturbed or damaged in any way. Why? Because even though elves are fascinating and beautiful creatures and can prove very helpful at the times of need, they are also known for their severe temper if angered or betrayed. Icelandic folklore has countless accounts of individuals who came across elves and made promises they couldn't keep or angered elves in others way. What would happen to these people? They would, and in some instances even their descendants, be cursed and suffer from severe losses, insanity, or even death. Now don't get me wrong. We like elves, a lot. We truly do. They're just not to be angered, that's it (When I think about it this sort of seems like a really weird case of codependency).

There have been several instances of altered construction works in Iceland throughout the years just because of elves. Plans have either been altered to avoid disturbing large rocks believed to be elf dwellings (Preventive measures = lets be really careful not to make them mad) or halted, and eventually changed, due to sudden and repeated equipment malfunction believed to be caused by elves (Reactive measures = that's it, they're pissed. Let's pack up).

So, do I believe this?

Here's the thing. Yes, I believe in elves but my belief is more of a matter of symbolism. There are three things I see in elves.

Beauty

Power

Respect

And to me these three words crystallize nature.

Nature, just like elves, is incredibly beautiful and mesmerizing. It can steal your breath, give you energy you didn't know you possessed and make you forget all your troubles for a while.  Secondly, it's a matter of power. Just like elves, nature is incredibly powerful, something which becomes rather evident when living on a windy, volcanic rock in the middle of the North-Atlantic, a place where nature either makes or breaks you. But the most important aspect of it all is that just like elves, nature, with all its beauty and power, should be respected. Fail to respect nature and the consequences will be dire, not only for you, but - yeah you guessed it - your descendants as well. 

There you have it, my two cents on elves. 

They kinda make sense now, right? 

xx

E