In North America, elves are seen merely as the protagonists of fictional works like “Elf on a Shelf.” Sure, children may believe in Santa’s elves, but in general adults would never expect to encounter elves in real life.
Iceland thinks about these magical creatures a little differently than other places do. Fully fifty-four percent of Iceland’s population either believes in elves or at least concedes that they may exist. Icelandic elves, or alfar, grow to only three feet tall, have pointy ears, and wear old-fashioned clothes.
Iceland takes its elf mythology so seriously that roads have been rerouted to avoid places where elves are thought to live. Some of the most notorious elves in Icelandic folklore are the 13 Yule Lads, pranksters who give candy to children at Christmas.
If you’re dying to get a taste of the Elfin magic of Iceland, flights from North America are surprisingly cheap. Once you’re there, you can take a three-hour class at the Elf School in Reykjavik to learn about these mysterious creatures over tea and cookies.
Read the full article here: Iceland’s Elf Obsession
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