Later this year, hubby and I are doing a cruise of the Baltic region. One of the stops is Oslo, Norway, a place I didn’t know much about. Research and deciding what to see is always part of the fun for me, and I was intrigued to learn about the combination of trolls and Norway.
Thirteen Facts About Trolls
1. If you Google trolls, at first you’ll come up with lots of websites about internet trolls, which are a different beast all together.
2. The trolls I’ve been researching live in the mountainous regions or woodland regions of Norway. They’re known as mountain or woodland trolls.
3. These days they are a shy creature and there is great debate as to their existence.
4. Several places in Norway are named after trolls such as Trollfjorden, Trollveggen, Trollstigen.
5. Trolls are huge and ugly. They’re scary but according to local lore they’re a little stupid, and a clever man or woman can use this to manipulate them.
6. Trolls are one beast that a romantic woman should not attempt to kiss. She will not find a prince but rather a filthy creature with long, entangled hair. The troll is more likely to eat her than attempt to exchange a kiss.
7. It’s very difficult to discern reality from myth and legends, especially since there has been no documented sightings for some many years.
8. Some people say trolls possess shape shifting powers, so perhaps this is why they’re so good at eluding people. Maybe your best friend is a troll in hiding.
9. I understand trolls are mammals and they live to a great age – anywhere in the range between 1000 – 12000 years old.
10. Like vampires, trolls have a bad reaction to sunlight. Younger trolls turn to stone while older trolls explode on exposure to sunlight.
11. Whenever you see electric pylons in Norway, especially in isolated mountainous regions, they’re probably not there for electricity but are electric fences used to keep trolls within their territories.
12. Trolls are mostly seen on moonlit nights.
13. It’s very important not to make an enemy of a troll because they’re good at revenge. The best advice I can give is to keep in good standing with any trolls you might meet or you’ll be very sorry.
Have you visited Norway? Have any tips? Do you have any experience with trolls?
I’m so excited to see your post.
I’ve a lot of experience with trolls. A whole gang of biker trolls lives in my imagination. I just wrote a YA novel about them. Several of my trolls are troll-shifters. :)
http://otherworlddiner.blogspot.com/2014/05/i-read-you-read-everybody-reads-books_8.html
Cool, Mia. I need to read your book!
I totally thought they weren’t real at all. This is so cool.
LOL – I’ll take photos is I see one. I wonder what a flash does to them?
#8 explains a lot
LOL – I not quite sure what to make of that.
My only experience with them is through the story Billy Goats Gruff and the fact that I like to call toll booths “troll booths.
You obviously have quite a few toll booths around your area to give them this name. We don’t have many toll roads here. One only.
I had no idea trolls could shape shift.
Great list.
I didn’t either. That begs a story.
I know about trolls from The Hobbit but that is all. I have an email pal who is Norwegian and she has sent me photos. Beautiful country. You will enjoy it.
I’m looking forward to it so much since this is our first visit to this part of the world.
Aw love that there are places named after them. That so made me smile.
I thought that was cool too. Unfortunately we won’t see a lot of the country during this visit – just a taste.
Okay, now I’m seriously jealous — Jeg elske Norge and would love a return trip. While I spent most of my time on the western coast (Hellvik, Egersund, Stavanger, Kristiansand), I have been to Oslo. Highly recommend the Norsk Folkemuseum in Bygdoy (just outside Oslo).
I would have liked time to explore Vigelandsparken Sculpture Park (it was raining the day we were near it), the The National Gallery, Natural History Museum and the Viking Ship Museum (though I did visit a small maritime museum near Hellvik) — not to mention the Oslo Fjord itself.
And by the way, you should have saved this post for next week, to coincide with Syttedne Mai, Norwegian Constitution Day. ;-)
Oh, and we have trolls in Wisconsin, too, a part of the Norwegian heritage that helped form the state. Nearby Mount Horeb’s Trollway is a popular day-trip tourist destination.
My Wildflower T13
I’ve never seen a troll but it’s interesting to learn about them.
Sounds like writing fodder to me…….
Loved this post… learned a few new things I didn’t know about Trolls:)