The Secret Life of Elves

Norwegian Mythology tells us that the Liosalfar or Light Elves live in Alfheim, where they owe allegiance to Frey, the God of Light and folklore claims the Elves as faery-folk, as elementals and spirits of Nature.

You may refer to these Spirits of the Land as Elves, or fairies, it's of no importance as long as you treat them with respect.

The Norwegians call the Elves Huldrafolk, and their music Huldraslaat.

Elven music is often said to be mournful, like a lament, but this is not so. But the music is always in a minor key.

To our human ears, the sweet singing of the Elves brings memories of melodies we seem to recognise, a poignant snatch of half-remembered notes we heard in childhood, passionate yet sentimental, thrilling yet frightening, and always piercing the heart.

Hounded by humans, there is still one place left for Elves, and even there they are rarely seen, and that place is the remaining dense forests of Norway. In the Norwegian Spring they are found among the new blossoms and in the Summer they enjoy a quiet swim in the rivers.

Although the Elves only appear visible to certain mortals on certain times in certain wild places, Sunday children (those born on Sunday) can see them at any time of the year.

It is a gift to be able to see otherworld beings, and sometimes an Elf will bestow this gift to deserving humans, but most of us can only hear faintly the distant sweet lilt of their music.

Elves are essentially artistic and creative in all their doings, they are extremely fond of dancing called Alvdanser - Elf-dance in the meadows and the steps of the dance cause circles of a livelier green, the Alvringar - Elf-ring.

If you are lucky, and in the woods in Springtime, you can see these circles on dew-soaked grass in the early morning.

Caution : If you happen to be passing through deep woods in the moonlight and, by chance, come across some dancing elves - don't watch!

Turn your head and go back the way you came. If you stay to watch, only a few hours will seem to pass, but many years will pass in the real world.

Elf with Black Sword
Brereton, Dan
Buy at AllPosters.com

Dark or light, the elven race is rarely seen and if so, elves only appear on certain times and on special places in woodlands untouched by humans.

The black or dark elves are beautiful, agile, dexterous creatures, proud and haughty in their bearing. They are the Drow, Elves of the underground.

These Dark Elves live in deep underground caves. In Spring they celebrate the new life by decking themselves with blossoms and in Summer they often frolic lightly with the ondines of the rivers.

To be truthful, apart from these seasonal activities, very little is known about the Drow at all.

Next time you are in the woods, especially if you are by a stream, sit down gently, close your eyes and stay very still and quiet.

You may hear, faintly at first, the soft silvery strains of Elven song. Far off, but sweetly lucid and unmistakeable.

It is said that all humans will hear the music of the Elves twice in their lives. Our tragedy is that we don't know when that will be.