Huldra is a beautiful and seductive forest and mountain creature or entitie found in Scandinavian folklore. Her name derives from a root meaning "covered" or "secret".
In the stories, Huldra can appear and show herself to people, mostly men whenever she feels like... She can be of help and she can also do harm, depending on who she meets and how you treat her.
She is known as the skogsrå "forest spirit" or Tallemaja "pine tree Mary" in Swedish folklore, and Ulda in Sámi folklore. Her name suggests that she is originally the same being as the Völva divine figure Huld and the German Holda.
Huldra can get you in trouble or she can help and comfort. Huldra can lure and rescue men, and in some legends she marries men...
Huldra also steals children or exchanges them for heir own. These children are called "byttinger" in norwegian or changelings...
If children had contracted diseases that couldnt be cured or were born disabled, it was explained that they had been replaced by Huldra or other entities of the underground.
These children where often left in the woods to die. Their mothers thought that by giving Huldra her children back, she would return their rightful and healty children...
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