The Hidden People of Iceland
Iceland’s Hidden People
If you’re heading for Iceland, keep an eye out for elves, trolls, pixies, gnomes and dwarfs...
Many Icelanders firmly believe in mystical creatures; some 54 per cent steadfastly believe they do exist and a staggering 90 per cent, if not totally convinced, are aware of a ‘shadow community.’ It doesn’t stop here either. There are some 600 Viking clan members in Iceland, who actively practice the traditions and cultures of their ancestors. A plane full of them recently besieged London in celebration of the 1,000 year anniversary of a famous Viking invasion.
Such is the seriousness of the Icelanders' belief, that during the recent construction of a multi-lane highway, work was delayed whilst a ‘dwarf home’ was relocated outside the construction zone. People are so fearful of curses and misfortune that ‘elf management’ has been introduced; folklorists are often employed to deal with the upheaval of these ‘homes’ to guarantee no harm is caused to these hidden people. In some past cases, people have fallen ill for no apparent reason whilst working on an area supposedly populated by them; machine equipment has ceased to work and injuries have been caused.
Marcus Skarphedinddon, the brother of one of the most influential political party leaders in Iceland, is also the proud head of the Icelandic Elf School, where you can learn about these elusive people. Pupils’ elf education isn’t just based in the classroom but includes a field trip to Grasteinn, a rock on the side of the road outside Reykjavik, which is said to be a home of the dwarfs.
Marcus comments 'I have spoken with over 500 people who say they have seen these creatures, spoken to them and been to their houses. Many people believe these hidden people have been the answer to their problems, cured illnesses and literally saved people’s lives.'
