NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Elf

Read psychedelic section for amazing info! on the experiments of real elves good for school projects

This article is about the small mythical creature, for the 2003 film, see Elf (film). For other uses, Elf (disambiguation). Elf is a 2003 Christmas-themed comedy film directed by Jon Favreau and released in the US on November 7, 2003. ... The term elf may refer to: Elf, a mythical creature, providing inspiration for: Fantasy Elves, including: Elves in the works of J. R. R. Tolkien Elves in the works of Terry Pratchett Elves in the works of Wendy and Richard Pini House-elves in the works of J. K. Rowling...

An elf is a creature of Germanic mythology which still survives in northern Europe. The elves were originally a race of minor nature and fertility gods, who are often pictured as youthful-seeming men and women of great beauty living in forests and underground places and caves, or in wells and springs. They have been portrayed to be long-lived or immortal and as beings of magical powers. Following J. R. R. Tolkien's influential The Lord of the Rings—in which a wise, angelic (and human-sized) people named Elves have a significant role—elves became staple characters of modern fantasy (see Elves in fantasy fiction and games). Image File history File links Small_elf. ... Image File history File links Small_elf. ... Elsa Beskow (née Maartman) (February 11, 1874 - June 30, 1953) was a Swedish author and illustrator of childrens books. ... ROSIE IS A GERMN LADYGermanic paganism refers to the religion of the Germanic nations preceding Christianization. ... For other uses, see Europe (disambiguation). ... Look up deity in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... This article is about a community of trees. ... Alternate meanings: Cave (disambiguation) The outside world viewed from a cave A cave is a natural underground void. ... This article is about living for infinite period of time. ... Not to be confused with Magic (illusion). ... J. R. R. Tolkien in 1916. ... This article is about the novel. ... In J. R. R. Tolkiens legendarium, an Elf is an individual member of one of the races that inhabit the lands of Arda. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... For other uses, see Fantasy (disambiguation). ... In many works of modern fantasy, elves are a race of semi-divine humanoid beings. ...

Elf can be pluralised as both elves and elfs. Something associated with elves or the qualities of elves is described by the adjectives elven, elvish, elfin or elfish. According to a convention of modern fantasy, the 'v' in elven or elvish refers to human-sized elves (who correspond more closely to those of the old Germanic paganism), whereas the f in elfin or elfish refers to tiny-sized elfs (who correspond more closely to the folklore of the Renaissance and Romantic Eras). They are also called: Look up plural in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... In grammar, an adjective is a word whose main syntactic role is to modify a noun or pronoun (called the adjectives subject), giving more information about what the noun or pronoun refers to. ... For other uses, see Fantasy (disambiguation). ...

The word elf (álf) may possibly trace back as far as the theoretical Proto-Indo-European root word *albh meaning "white", from which also stems the Latin albus "white", and its derivatives in Portuguese, Spanish and English albino.^[2]^[3] Read psychedelic section for amazing info! on the experiments of real elves good for school projects This article is about the small mythical creature, for the 2003 film, see Elf (film). ... Incubus, 1870 This article is about the type of demon called an Incubus. For other uses, see Incubus. ... by Sophie Anderson A fairy, or faery, is a creature from stories and mythology, often portrayed in art and literature as a minuscule humanoid with wings. ... Read psychedelic section for amazing info! on the experiments of real elves good for school projects This article is about the small mythical creature, for the 2003 film, see Elf (film). ... The Proto-Indo-European language (PIE) is the hypothetical common ancestor of the Indo-European languages, spoken by the Proto-Indo-Europeans. ...

Elves in Norse mythology

The earliest preserved description of elves comes from Nick Pearson whome was usually seen in St. Josephs School. In Old Norse they are called álfar (singular, nominative case: álfr), and although no older or contemporary descriptions exist, the appearance of beings etymologically related to álfar in various later folklore strongly suggests that the belief in elves was common among all the Germanic tribes, and not limited solely to the ancient Scandinavians. Image File history File links Artwork showing the Norse god Freyr. ... Image File history File links Artwork showing the Norse god Freyr. ... This 19th century representation of Freyr shows him with his boar Gullinbursti and his sword. ... Old Norse is the Germanic language spoken by the inhabitants of Scandinavia and their overseas settlements during the Viking Age, until about 1300. ... In linguistics, grammatical number is a morphological category characterized by the expression of quantity through inflection or agreement. ... The nominative case is a grammatical case for a noun, which generally marks the subject of a verb, as opposed to its object or other verb arguments. ... The term Germanic tribes (or Teutonic tribes) applies to the ancient Germanic peoples of Europe. ... For other uses, see Scandinavia (disambiguation). ...

Elves are tall immortal creatures who are inhabitants of Middle Earth. Although the concept itself is never clearly defined in the extant sources, the elves appear to have been conceived as powerful and beautiful human-sized beings. Full-sized famous men could be elevated to the rank of elves after death, such as the petty king Olaf Geirstad-Elf, whereas the smith hero Wayland Smith was titled as "ruler of elves" while alive, in the Volundarkvida. In the Thidrek's Saga a human queen is surprised to learn that the lover who has made her pregnant is an elf and not a man. In the saga of Hrolf Kraki a king named Helgi rapes and impregnates an elf-woman clad in silk who is the most beautiful woman he has ever seen. Olaf Gudrødsson, or as he was named after his death Olaf Geirstad-Alf, was a legendary Norwegian king of the House of Yngling from the Ynglinga saga. ... Weyland (also spelled Wayland, Weland and Watlende) is the mythical smith-god of the Saxon immigrants into Britain. ... VÃ¶lundr and his brothers marry valkyries who dress in swan skins. ... ÃžiÃ°rekssaga (also Thidreksaga, Thidrekssaga, Niflungasaga or Vilkina saga) is a saga of the adventures of the hero Dietrich von Bern, believed to be based on the historical Theodoric the Great, and written down about 1250. ... HrÃ³lfs saga kraka, the Saga of King Hrolf kraki, is a late legendary saga on the adventures of HrÃ³lfr Kraki and his clan, the SkjÃ¶ldungs. ... Helgi means holy and is an old Nordic name still used in e. ...

Crossbreeding was consequently possible between elves and humans in the Old Norse belief. The human queen who had an elvish lover bore the hero Högni, and the elf-woman who was raped by Helgi bore Skuld, who married Hjörvard, Hrólfr Kraki's killer. the saga of Hrolf Kraki adds that since Skuld was half-elven, she was very skilled in witchcraft (seiðr), and this to the point that she was almost invincible in battle. When her warriors fell, she made them rise again to continue fighting. The only way to defeat her was to capture her before she could summon her armies, which included elvish warriors.^[4] For the Högni of the Heimskringla and the legends of Helge Hundingsbane, see Högne. ... Skuld was a princess who married Heoroweard and encouraged him to kill HrÃ³lf Kraki. ... Heoroweard, Hjörvard, Hjorvard or Hiar(t(h))uar is a character who appears both in Beowulf and in Norse mythology, where he is named Hjörvard. ... HrÃ³lf Kraki (Old Norse), Rolf Kraki or Rolf Krake was a legendary king at Lejre on the isle of Zealand, Denmark, described in several old sagas and other documents such as the Leire chronicle and Gesta Danorum by Saxo Grammaticus. ... In Norse mythology, a half-elf is the offspring of an elf and a human. ... Seid (Old Norse: seiÃ°r or seidhr; sometimes anglicized as seidhr, seidh, seidr, seithr or seith) was a form of sorcery or witchcraft with aspects of shamanism which was practiced by the pre-Christian Norse. ...

There are also in the Heimskringla and in The Saga of Thorstein, Viking's Son accounts of a line of local kings who ruled over Álfheim, corresponding to the modern Swedish province Bohuslän, and since they had elven blood they were said to be more beautiful than most men. Heimskringla is the Old Norse name of a collection of sagas recorded in Iceland around 1225 by the poet and historian Snorri Sturluson (1179-1242). ... Ãžorsteins saga VÃkingssonar or The Saga of Thorstein, Vikings Son is a legendary saga taking place in the 7th century and it is about the father of Frithjof the Bold. ... Ãlfheim (Old Norse Ãlfheimr Elf-home) is the abode of the Ãlfar Elves in Norse mythology and appears also in northern English ballads under the forms Elfhame and Elphame, sometimes modernized as Elfland or Elfenland. ... , (Latin: Bahusia; Norwegian: BÃ¥huslen) is a province (landskap) in West Sweden (VÃ¤stsverige). ...

The last king is named Gandalf.^[6] Gandalf is a dwarf in Norse mythology, he appears in the poem Völuspa in the Edda. ...

In addition to these human aspects, they are commonly described as semi-divine beings associated with fertility and the cult of the ancestors and ancestor worship. The notion of elves thus appears similar to the animistic belief in spirits of nature and of the deceased, common to nearly all human religions; this is also true for the Old Norse belief in dísir, fylgjur and vörðar ("follower" and "warden" spirits, respectively). Like spirits, the elves were not bound by physical limitations and could pass through walls and doors in the manner of ghosts, which happens in Norna-Gests þáttr. It is said that elves are the Germanic equivalent to the nymphs of Greek and Roman mythology, and vili and rusalki of Slavic mythology.^{[citation needed]} Ancestor worship, also ancestor veneration, is a religious practice based on the belief that ones ancestors possess supernatural powers. ... The term Animism is derived from the Latin anima, meaning soul.[1][2] In its most general sense, animism is simply the belief in souls. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... The dying Viking hero Ragnar Lodbrok exclaimed in KrÃ¡kumÃ¡l: the dÃsir invite me home (to Valhalla). This is an illustration of a lady welcoming Odin back to Valhalla on the TÃ¤ngvide image stone, Gotland. ... A fylgja (literally: she, who follows) was, according to Scandinavian mythology, a supernatural creature which accompanied a person. ... In Norse mythology, a vÃ¶rÃ°r (warden, watcher or caretaker) is a warden spirit, believed to follow from birth to death the soul (hugr) of every person. ... The death of Nornagest, by Gunnar Vidar Forssell Norna-Gests Ã¾Ã¡ttr or the Story of Norna-Gest is a legendary saga about the Norse hero Norna-Gest. ... In Greek mythology, a nymph is any member of a large class of female nature entities, either bound to a particular location or landform or joining the retinue of a god or goddess. ... A head of Minerva found in the ruins of the Roman baths in Bath Roman mythology, the mythological beliefs of the people of Ancient Rome, can be considered as having two parts. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Slavic mythology and Slavic religion evolved over more than 3,000 years. ...

The Icelandic mythographer and historian Snorri Sturluson referred to dwarves (dvergar) as "dark-elves" (dökkálfar) or "black-elves" (svartálfar); but whether this reflects wider medieval Scandinavian belief is uncertain.^[7] He referred to other elves as "light-elves" (ljósálfar), which has often been associated with elves' connection with Freyr, the god of the sun (according to Grímnismál, Poetic Edda). Snorri describes the elf differences as follows: Image File history File links from project Runeberg File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File links from project Runeberg File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Weyland (also spelled Wayland, Weland and Watlende) is the mythical smith-god of the Saxon immigrants into Britain. ... A statue of Snorri Sturluson by Norwegian sculptor Gustav Vigeland was erected at Reykholt in 1947. ... This page is about a mythological race. ... In Norse mythology, the dwarves (Old Norse: dvergar, sing. ... In Norse mythology, the svartÃ¡lfar (black elves) or dÃ¶kkÃ¡lfar (dark elves) are supernatural beings (Old Norse vÃ¦ttir, wights) that are said to reside in the underground world of SvartÃ¡lfheim. ... In Norse mythology, the svartÃ¡lfar (black elves) or dÃ¶kkÃ¡lfar (dark elves) are supernatural beings (Old Norse vÃ¦ttir, wights) that are said to reside in the underground world of SvartÃ¡lfheim. ... In Norse mythology, the Light Elves (Old Norse: LjÃ³sÃ¡lfar) live in Ãlfheim. ... This 19th century representation of Freyr shows him with his boar Gullinbursti and his sword. ... GrÃmnismÃ¡l (Sayings of GrÃmnir) is one of the mythological poems of the Poetic Edda. ...

Further evidence for elves in Norse mythology comes from Skaldic poetry, the Poetic Edda and legendary sagas. In these elves are linked to the Æsir, particularly by the common phrase "Æsir and the elves", which presumably means "all the gods".^[9] Some scholars have compared elves to the Vanir (fertility gods).^[10] But in the Alvíssmál ("The Sayings of All-Wise"), elves are considered distinct from both the Vanir and the Æsir, as revealed by a series of comparative names in which Æsir, Vanir, and elves are given their own versions for various words in a reflection of their individual racial preferences. It is possible that the words designate a difference in status between the major fertility gods (the Vanir) and the minor ones (the elves). Grímnismál relates that the Van Frey was the lord of Álfheimr (meaning "elf-world"), the home of the light-elves. Lokasenna relates that a large group of Æsir and elves had assembled at Ægir's court for a banquet. Several minor forces, the servants of gods, are presented such as Byggvir and Beyla, who belonged to Freyr, the lord of the elves, and they were probably elves, since they were not counted among the gods. Two other mentioned servants were Fimafeng (who was murdered by Loki) and Eldir. External links Original text English text Categories: Mythology stubs | Medieval literature | Sagas of Iceland | Norse mythology | Nordic folklore ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with skaldic poetry. ... Look up Poetic Edda in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Fornalder (times past), painting by Peter Nicolai Arbo A Legendary saga or Fornaldarsaga, literally a tale of times past is a Norse saga which, unlike the Icelandic sagas, takes place before the colonization of Iceland. ... In Old Norse, the Ã†sir (singular Ãs, feminine Ãsynja, feminine plural Ãsynjur, Anglo-Saxon Ã“s, from Proto-Germanic *Ansuz) are the principal gods of the pantheon of Norse mythology. ... Vanir is the name of one of the two groups of gods in Norse mythology, the other and more well known being the Ã†sir. ... AlvÃssmÃ¡l is an Eddic poem relating a conversation ÃžÃ³rr had with the dwarf AlvÃss (All-knowing). AlvÃss comes to ÃžÃ³rr to claim ÃžÃ³rrs daughter as his bride. ... In Old Norse, the Ã†sir (singular Ãs, feminine Ãsynja, feminine plural Ãsynjur, Anglo-Saxon Ã“s, from Proto-Germanic *Ansuz) are the principal gods of the pantheon of Norse mythology. ... GrÃmnismÃ¡l (Sayings of GrÃmnir) is one of the mythological poems of the Poetic Edda. ... This 19th century representation of Freyr shows him with his boar Gullinbursti and his sword. ... Ãlfheim (Old Norse Ãlfheimr Elf-home) is the abode of the Ãlfar Elves in Norse mythology and appears also in northern English ballads under the forms Elfhame and Elphame, sometimes modernized as Elfland or Elfenland. ... Lokasenna (Lokis flyting, Lokis wrangling, Lokis quarrel) is one of the mythological poems of the Poetic Edda. ... In Norse mythology Ã†gir is a giant and a king of the sea. ... In Norse mythology, the elf Byggvir was one of Freyrs servants and the husband of Beyla. ... In Norse mythology, Beyla was a female elf and the wife of Byggvir and like her husband one of Freyrs servant. ... Fimafeng is a servant of Aegir in Norse Mythology. ... For other uses, see Loki (disambiguation). ... In Norse mythology, Eldir was a servant of the giant Ã†gir. ...

Some speculate that Vanir and elves belong to an earlier Nordic Bronze Age religion of Scandinavia, and were later replaced by the Æsir as main gods.^{[citation needed]} Others (most notably Georges Dumézil) argue that the Vanir were the gods of the common Norsemen, and the Æsir those of the priest and warrior castes (see also Nerthus).^{[citation needed]} Map of the Nordic Bronze Age culture, ca 1200 BC The Nordic Bronze Age (also Northern Bronze Age) is the name given by Oscar Montelius (1843-1921) to a period and a Bronze Age culture in Scandinavian pre-history, ca 1800 BC - 600 BC, with sites that reached as far... For other uses, see Scandinavia (disambiguation). ... Georges DumÃ©zil (March 4, 1898 - October 11, 1986) was a French comparative philologist best known for his analysis of sovereignty and power in Indo-European religion and society. ... Nerthus (also sometimes Hertha) is a Germanic fertility goddess who was mentioned by Tacitus in his work entitled Germania. ...

A poem from around 1020, the Austrfaravísur ('Eastern-journey verses') of Sigvat Thordarson, mentions that, as a Christian, he was refused board in a heathen household, in Sweden, because an álfablót ("elves' sacrifice") was being conducted there. However, we have no further reliable information as to what an álfablót involved,^[11] but like other blóts it probably included the offering of foods, and later Scandinavian folklore retained a tradition of sacrificing treats to the elves (see below). From the time of year (close to the autumnal equinox) and the elves' association with fertility and the ancestors, we might assume that it had to do with the ancestor cult and the life force of the family. Events Hospice built in Jerusalem by Knights Hospitaller City of Saint-Germain-en-Laye founded Third Italian campaign of Henry II of Germany Canute the Great codifies the laws of England Births Harold II of England (approximate) Empress Agnes of Poitou, regent of the Holy Roman Empire (d. ... AustrfararvÃsur East Journey Verses is a poem composed by the Icelandic skald Sigvatr ÃžorÃ°arson in the 1020s. ... Sigvatr ÃžorÃ°arson was a court poet to the Norwegian kings Olaf II of Norway and Canute the Great, by whose reigns his floreat can be dated to the earlier eleventh century. ... The ÃlfablÃ³t or the Elven sacrifice was a pagan Scandinavian sacrifice to the elves. ... The BlÃ³t was the pagan Germanic sacrifice to Norse gods and Elves. ... Scandinavian folklore is the folklore of Sweden, Norway and Denmark. ... Illumination of Earth by Sun on the day of equinox The autumnal equinox (or fall equinox) marks the beginning of astronomical autumn. ...

In addition to this, Kormáks saga accounts for how a sacrifice to elves was apparently believed able to heal a severe battle wound: KormÃ¡ks saga is an Icelandic saga telling of the 10th century Icelandic poet KormÃ¡kr and SteingerÃ°r, the love of his life. ...

Scandinavian elves

In Scandinavian folklore, which is a later blend of Norse mythology and elements of Christian mythology, an elf is called elver in Danish, alv in Norwegian, and alv or älva in Swedish (the first is masculine, the second feminine). The Norwegian expressions seldom appear in genuine folklore, and when they do, they are always used synonymous to huldrefolk or vetter, a category of earth-dwelling beings generally held to be more related to Norse dwarves than elves which is comparable to the Icelandic huldufólk (hidden people). Illustration from Children of the Forest (Tomtebobarnen, 1910) by Elsa Beskow. ... Illustration from Children of the Forest (Tomtebobarnen, 1910) by Elsa Beskow. ... Elsa Beskow (née Maartman) (February 11, 1874 - June 30, 1953) was a Swedish author and illustrator of childrens books. ... Scandinavian folklore is the folklore of Sweden, Norway and Denmark. ... Christian mythology is the body of traditional narrative associated with Christianity. ... The word masculine can refer to: the property of being biologically male masculinity, a traditionally male gender role the masculine grammatical gender This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... Look up feminine in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Wight is an obsolete word for a human or other intelligent being (cognate to modern German Wicht, meaning small person, dwarf, and also unpleasant guy). It is used now only to give an impression of archaism and mystery, for example in the works of J. R. R. Tolkien. ...

In Denmark and Sweden, the elves appear as beings distinct from the vetter, even though the border between them is diffuse. The insect-winged fairies in the folklore of the British Isles are often called "älvor" in modern Swedish or "alfer" in Danish, although the correct translation is "feer." In a similar vein, the alf found in the fairy tale The Elf of the Rose by Danish author H. C. Andersen is so tiny that he can have a rose blossom for home, and has "wings that reached from his shoulders to his feet". Yet, Andersen also wrote about elvere in The Elfin Hill. The elves in this story are more alike those of traditional Danish folklore, who were beautiful females, living in hills and boulders, capable of dancing a man to death. Like the huldra in Norway and Sweden, they are hollow when seen from the back. by Sophie Anderson A fairy, or faery, is a creature from stories and mythology, often portrayed in art and literature as a minuscule humanoid with wings. ... This article describes the archipelago in north-western Europe. ... For other uses, see Hans Christian Andersen (disambiguation). ... A huldra and NÃ¤cken. ...

The elves of Norse mythology have survived into folklore mainly as females, living in hills and mounds of stones^[14] (cf. Galadriel's account of what would happen to the Elves who remained in Middle-earth). The Swedish älvor^[15] (sing. älva) were stunningly beautiful girls who lived in the forest with an elven king. They were long-lived and light-hearted in nature. The elves are typically pictured as fair-haired, white-clad and, like most creatures in the Scandinavian folklore, can be really nasty when offended. In the stories, they often play the role of disease-spirits. The most common, though also most harmless case was various irritating skin rashes, which were called älvablåst (elven blow) and could be cured by a forceful counter-blow (a handy pair of bellows was most useful for this purpose). Skålgropar, a particular kind of petroglyph found in Scandinavia, were known in older times as älvkvarnar (elven mills), pointing to their believed usage. One could appease the elves by offering them a treat (preferably butter) placed into an elven mill – perhaps a custom with roots in the Old Norse álfablót. Image File history File links Alfkors. ... Image File history File links Alfkors. ... Galadriel is a fictional character created by J. R. R. Tolkien, appearing in The Lord of the Rings. ... A map of the Northwestern part of Middle-earth at the end of the Third Age, courtesy of the Encyclopedia of Arda. ... For the manga by Tsukasa Hôjô, see Rash. ... A large bellows creates a mushroom cloud at the Exploratorium in San Francisco, California. ... For other uses, see Petroglyph (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Butter (disambiguation). ...

In order to protect themselves against malevolent elves, Scandinavians could use a so-called Elf cross (Alfkors, Älvkors or Ellakors), which was carved into buildings or other objects.^[13] It existed in two shapes, one was a pentagram and it was still frequently used in early 20th century Sweden as painted or carved onto doors, walls and household utensils in order to protect against elves.^[13] As the name suggests, the elves were perceived as a potential danger against people and livestock.^[13] The second form was an ordinary cross carved onto a round or oblong silver plate.^[13] This second kind of elf cross one was worn as a pendant in a necklace and in order to have sufficient magic it had to be forged during three evenings with silver from nine different sources of inherited silver.^[13] In some locations it also had to be on the altar of a church during three consecutive Sundays.^[13] A pentagram A pentagram (sometimes known as a pentalpha or pentangle or, more formally, as a star pentagon) is the shape of a five-pointed star drawn with five straight strokes. ... (19th century - 20th century - 21st century - more centuries) Decades: 1900s 1910s 1920s 1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s As a means of recording the passage of time, the 20th century was that century which lasted from 1901–2000 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar (1900–1999...

The elves could be seen dancing over meadows, particularly at night and on misty mornings. They left a kind of circle where they had danced, which were called älvdanser (elf dances) or älvringar (elf circles), and to urinate in one was thought to cause venereal diseases. Some people think these are the same as fairy rings, but they are different because elves and fairies are not the same kind of beings. Typically, elf circles consisted of a ring of small mushrooms, but there was also another kind of elf circle: Image File history File links Ã„ngsÃ¤lvor_-_Nils_BlommÃ©r_1850. ... Image File history File links Ã„ngsÃ¤lvor_-_Nils_BlommÃ©r_1850. ... Nils Johan Olsson BlommÃ©r (1816-1853) was a Swedish painter. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Johan August MalmstrÃ¶m (1829 â€“ 1901), was a Swedish academic painter associated with the Symbolist movement. ... A fairy ring around a tree. ... Sexually-transmitted infections (STIs), also known as sexually-transmitted diseases (STDs), are diseases that are commonly transmitted between partners through some form of sexual activity, most commonly vaginal intercourse, oral sex, or anal sex. ... One of Arthur Rackhams illustrations to William Shakespeares A Midsummer Nights Dream. ... by Sophie Anderson A fairy, or faery, is a creature from stories and mythology, often portrayed in art and literature as a minuscule humanoid with wings. ... For other uses, see Mushroom (disambiguation). ...

If a human watched the dance of the elves, he would discover that even though only a few hours seemed to have passed, many years had passed in the real world. (This time phenomenon is retold in Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings when the Fellowship of the Ring discovers that time seems to have run more slowly in elven Lothlórien. It also has a remote parallel in the Irish sídhe.) In a song from the late Middle Ages about Olaf Liljekrans, the elven queen invites him to dance. He refuses, he knows what will happen if he joins the dance and he is on his way home to his own wedding. The queen offers him gifts, but he declines. She threatens to kill him if he does not join, but he rides off and dies of the disease she sent upon him, and his young bride dies of a broken heart.^[17] Tolkien redirects here. ... This article is about the novel. ... location of LÃ³rien in Middle-earth marked in red This article is about the LÃ³rien of J. R. R. Tolkiens works. ... SÃdhe (IPA , shee, modern Irish: sÃ; Scottish Gaelic: sÃ¬th) is an Irish and Scottish Gaelic word referring first to earthen mounds that were thought to be home to a supernatural race related to the fey and elves of other traditions, and later to these inhabitants themselves. ... The Middle Ages formed the middle period in a traditional schematic division of European history into three ages: the classical civilization of Antiquity, the Middle Ages, and modern times, beginning with the Renaissance. ...

However, the elves were not exclusively young and beautiful. In the Swedish folktale Little Rosa and Long Leda, an elvish woman (älvakvinna) arrives in the end and saves the heroine, Little Rose, on condition that the king's cattle no longer graze on her hill. She is described as an old woman and by her aspect people saw that she belonged to the subterraneans.^[18]

These myths and legends of elves that are so popular among Scandinavians, are quite prevalent in their everyday lives. It has been said that to this day, many Scandinavians do still believe in this existence of " hidden people", and will often go out of their way to see that they do not disturb these creatures. For example, just outside of Reykjavik, Iceland, a soccer game was called to a halt when a misled ball rolled off the beaten path, and stopped right next to a sign that marked the home of 3 elves believed to dwell near the stones where the ball was resting. Instead of reclaiming the ball, the soccer player opted to leave it there in order to avoid disturbing the elves.

German elves

The original German elves (Old Saxon alf; Middle High German: alb, alp; plural elbe, elber; Old High German alb, by 13th century^[19]) are thought to be light creatures who lived in heaven during the era of Germanic paganism, and may have included dark elves or dwarves underground (as understood to be similar to the álfr of Old Norse mythology). In post-Christian folklore they began to be described as mischievous pranksters that could cause disease to cattle and people, and bring bad dreams to sleepers. The German word for nightmare, Albtraum, means "elf dream". The archaic form Albdruck means "elf pressure"; it was believed that nightmares are a result of an elf sitting on the dreamer's chest. This aspect of German elf-belief largely corresponds to the Scandinavian belief in the mara. It is also similar to the legends regarding incubi and succubi.^[20] The current usage of the term nightmare refers to a dream which causes the sleeper a strong unpleasant emotional response. ... A mara or mare is a kind of malignant female wraith in Scandinavian folklore believed to cause nightmares. ... Incubus, 1870 This article is about the type of demon called an Incubus. For other uses, see Incubus. ... For other uses, see Succubus (disambiguation). ...

As noted above, an elven king occasionally appears among the predominantly female elves in Denmark and Sweden. In the German middle-age epic the Nibelungenlied, a dwarf named Alberich play an important role. Alberich literally translates as "elf-sovereign", further contributing to the elf–dwarf confusion observed already in the Younger Edda. Via the French Alberon, the same name has entered English as Oberon – king of elves and fairies in Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream (see below). The Nibelungenlied, translated as The Song of the Nibelungs, is an epic poem in Middle High German. ... This article is about the mythical creature. ... Alberich, by Arthur Rackham. ... This colourful front page of the Prose Edda in an 18th century Icelandic manuscript shows Odin, Heimdallr, Sleipnir and other figures from Norse mythology. ... Oberon, also Auberon, King of the Fairies, is most well-known as a character in William Shakespeares play, A Midsummer Nights Dream, written in the mid-1590s. ... by Sophie Anderson A fairy, or faery, is a creature from stories and mythology, often portrayed in art and literature as a minuscule humanoid with wings. ... For other uses, see A Midsummer Nights Dream (disambiguation). ...

The legend of Der Erlkönig appears to have originated in fairly recent times in Denmark and Goethe based his poem on "Erlkönigs Tochter" ("Erlkönig's Daughter"), a Danish work translated into German by Johann Gottfried Herder. For other uses, see Legend (disambiguation). ... The Erlking, by Albert Sterner, ca. ... Johann Wolfgang von Goethe Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (pronounced [gø tə]) (August 28, 1749–March 22, 1832) was a German writer, politician, humanist, scientist, and philosopher. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ...

The Erlkönig's nature has been the subject of some debate. The name translates literally from the German as "Alder King" rather than its common English translation, "Elf King" (which would be rendered as Elfenkönig in German). It has often been suggested that Erlkönig is a mistranslation from the original Danish elverkonge or elverkonge, which does mean "elf king". Species About 20-30 species, see text. ...

According to German and Danish folklore, the Erlkönig appears as an omen of death, much like the banshee in Irish mythology. Unlike the banshee, however, the Erlkönig will appear only to the person about to die. His form and expression also tell the person what sort of death they will have: a pained expression means a painful death, a peaceful expression means a peaceful death. This aspect of the legend was immortalised by Goethe in his poem Der Erlkönig, later set to music by Schubert. This article is about the banshee of Irish folklore. ... The mythology of pre-Christian Ireland did not entirely survive the conversion to Christianity, but much of it was preserved, shorn of its religious meanings, in medieval Irish literature, which represents the most extensive and best preserved of all the branches of Celtic mythology. ... Johann Wolfgang von Goethe Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (pronounced [gø tə]) (August 28, 1749–March 22, 1832) was a German writer, politician, humanist, scientist, and philosopher. ... The Erlking, by Albert Sterner, ca. ... Franz Schubert Franz Peter Schubert (January 31, 1797 â€“ November 19, 1828) was an Austrian composer. ...

In the first story of the Brothers Grimm fairy tale Die Wichtelmänner, the title protagonists are two naked mannequins, which help a shoemaker in his work. When he rewards their work with little clothes, they are so delighted, that they run away and are never seen again. Even though Wichtelmänner are akin to beings such as kobolds, dwarves and brownies, the tale has been translated into English as The Elves and the Shoemaker, and is echoed in J. K. Rowling's Harry Potter stories (see House-elf). For other uses, see Brothers Grimm (disambiguation). ... Kobolds are ugly spirits of German folklore. ... This article is about the mythical creature. ... A signature Cox Brownie A brownie, brounie/Urisk (Lowland Scots) or Ã¹ruisg/brÃ¹naidh (Scottish Gaelic) is a legendary kind of elf popular in folklore around Scotland and England (especially the north). ... Wikisource has original text related to this article: The Elves and the Shoemaker The Elves and the Shoemaker, or conversely The Shoemaker and the Elves, (German Der Schuhmacher und die HeinzelmÃ¤nnchen) is an often copied and remade story about a poor shoemaker who receives help from HeinzelmÃ¤nnchen (more... Joanne Jo Murray, nÃ©e Rowling OBE (born 31 July 1965),[1] who writes under the pen name J. K. Rowling,[2] is an English writer and author of the Harry Potter fantasy series. ... This article is about the Harry Potter series of novels. ... Dobby House-elves are fictional magical creatures in the Harry Potter series of books written by J. K. Rowling. ...

Variations of the German elf in folklore include the moss people^[21] and the weisse frauen ("white women"). On the latter Jacob Grimm does not make a direct association to the elves, but other researchers see a possible connection to the shining light elves of Old Norse.^[22] Moss people (also known as wood people, the females known as moss maidens) come from Southern Germanic folklore and are a type of tree elf, tree spirit or fairy. ... Barbara RadziwiÅ‚ ghost, oil on canvas, 281 x 189 cm. ... The Brothers Grimm on a 1000DM banknote. ...

Dutch elves

Dutch elves are like the German, in most respects. See the discussion of the Dutch "elf spirit" or "elf ghost" in Elegast, the wood people and the elvenized witte wieven. Elegast is the hero and noble robber in the poem Karel ende Elegast, a Medieval Dutch epic poem that has been translated into English as Charlemagne and Elbegast. ... Moss people (also known as wood people, the females known as moss maidens) come from Southern Germanic folklore and are a type of tree elf, tree spirit or fairy. ... Witte Wieven or witte vrouwen (White women) are creatures from dutch folklore in ancient germanic times they where similar to druids of the celts and where herbalists and wise woman taking care of people ailments both physicaly mentaly and spiritualy it was said they had the talent to make prophecies...

English elves

The word elf came into English as the Old English word ælf (pl. ælfe, with regional and chronological variants such as ylfe and ælfen), and so came to Britain originally with the Anglo-Saxons.^[23] Words for the nymphs of the Greek and Roman mythos were translated by Anglo-Saxon scholars with ælf and variants on it.^[24] Poor little birdie teased by Victorian era illustrator Richard Doyle (1824-1883). ... Poor little birdie teased by Victorian era illustrator Richard Doyle (1824-1883). ... Queen Victoria (shown here on the morning of her ascension to the Throne, 20 June 1837) gave her name to the historic era The Victorian era of the United Kingdom marked the height of the British Industrial Revolution and the apex of the British Empire. ... Richard Dickie Doyle (September 1824 - December 11, 1883) was a notable Victorian illustrator. ... English folklore is the folk tradition which has developed in England over a number of centuries. ... The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ... Old English redirects here. ... For other uses, see Anglo-Saxon. ... For other uses of nymph see Nymph (disambiguation). ... A head of Minerva found in the ruins of the Roman baths in Bath Roman mythology, the mythological beliefs of the people of Ancient Rome, can be considered as having two parts. ...

Although our early English evidence is slight, there are reasons to think that Anglo-Saxon elves (ælfe) were similar to early elves in Norse mythology: human-like, human-sized supernatural beings, predominantly if not exclusively male, capable of helping or harming the people who encountered them. In particular, the pairing of æsir and álfar found in the Poetic Edda is mirrored in the Old English charm Wið færstice and in the distinctive occurrence of the cognate words os and ælf in Anglo-Saxon personal names (e.g. Oswald, Ælfric^[25]). In Old Norse, the Ã†sir (singular Ãs, feminine Ãsynja, feminine plural Ãsynjur, Anglo-Saxon Ã“s, from Proto-Germanic *Ansuz) are the principal gods of the pantheon of Norse mythology. ... In Norse mythology, the Ãlfar, or Elves, are usually considered to be the height of humans or just above. ... Look up Poetic Edda in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... An Anglo-Saxon medical text composed in Old English, surviving in the collection known now as Lacnunga. ...

In relation to the beauty of the Norse elves, some further evidence is given by old English words such as ælfsciene ("elf-beautiful"), used of seductively beautiful Biblical women in the Old English poems Judith and Genesis A.^[26] Although elves could be considered to be beautiful and potentially helpful beings in some sections of English-speaking society throughout its history, Anglo-Saxon evidence also attests to alignments of elves with demons, as for example in line 112 of Beowulf. On the other hand, oaf is simply a variant of the word elf, presumably originally referring to a changeling or to someone stupefied by elvish enchantment. Judith is an Old English poem retelling the legend of the beheading of Holofernes, an Assyrian military leader, by the eponymous heroine, as recorded in the apocryphal book of Judith. ... This article is about the epic poem. ... For other uses see Changeling (disambiguation) Trolls with the changeling they have raised, John Bauer, 1913 A changeling, in various European legends, is the offspring of a fairy, troll, elf or other creature, left secretly in exchange for a human child. ... For other uses of the words enchantment, enchanter, or enchantress, see enchantment (disambiguation). ...

Elf-shot (or elf-bolt or elf-arrow) is a word found in Scotland and Northern England, first attested in a manuscript of about the last quarter of the 16th century. Although first attested in the sense 'sharp pain caused by elves', it is later attested denoting Neolithic flint arrow-heads, which by the 17th century seem to have been attributed in Scotland to elvish folk, and which were used in healing rituals, and alleged to be used by witches (and perhaps elves) to injure people and cattle.^[27] So too a tangle in the hair was called an elf-lock, as being caused by the mischief of the elves, and sudden paralysis was sometimes attributed to elf-stroke. Compare with the following excerpt from an 1750 ode by Willam Collins: (15th century - 16th century - 17th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 16th century was that century which lasted from 1501 to 1600. ... An array of Neolithic artifacts, including bracelets, axe heads, chisels, and polishing tools. ... This article is about the sedimentary rock. ... An arrow is a pointed projectile that is shot with a bow. ... (16th century - 17th century - 18th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 17th century was that century which lasted from 1601-1700. ... William Collins (1721 - 1759), English poet, was educated at Winchester and Oxford, moved to London in the 1740s and spent the last years of his life in Chichester. ...

The elf makes many appearances in ballads of English and Scottish origin, as well as folk tales, many involving trips to Elphame or Elfland (the Álfheim of Norse mythology), a mystical realm which is sometimes an eerie and unpleasant place. The elf is occasionally portrayed in a positive light, such as the Queen of Elphame in the ballad Thomas the Rhymer, but many examples exist of elves of sinister character, frequently bent on rape and murder, as in the Tale of Childe Rowland, or the ballad Lady Isabel and the Elf-Knight, in which the Elf-Knight bears away Isabel to murder her. Most instances of elves in ballads are male; the only commonly encountered female elf is the Queen of Elfland, who appears in Thomas the Rhymer and The Queen of Elfland's Nourice, in which a woman is abducted to be a wet-nurse to the queen's baby, but promised that she may return home once the child is weaned. In none of these cases is the elf a spritely character with pixie-like qualities. A ballad is a story in song, usually a narrative song or poem. ... Álfheim (Old Norse Álfheimr Elf-home) is the abode of the Álfar Elves in Norse mythology and appears also in northern English ballads under the forms Elfhame and Elphame. ... Thomas the Rhymer (also Thomas Rhymer or Thomas Rymer) is the better-known name of Thomas Learmonth of Erceldoune, a 13th century Scottish laird and reputed soothsayer. ... Childe Rowland is a fairy tale, the most popular version being by Joseph Jacobs in his English Folk and Fairy Tales, published in 1892, and written partly in verse and part in prose. ... Lady Isabel and the Elf Knight (Child Ballad #4), is the English representative of a very large class of European ballads, most frequently known under the title Halewyn (or some variant). ... Thomas the Rhymer (also Thomas Rhymer or Thomas Rymer) is the better-known name of Thomas Learmonth of Erceldoune, a 13th century Scottish laird and reputed soothsayer. ... The Queen of Elfans Nourice or The Queen of Elflands Nourice is Child ballad number 40. ... A wet nurse is a woman who breast feeds a baby that is not her own. ... This article is about the legendary or mythical race. ... Pixies (or Piskies as they are sometimes known in Cornwall) are mythical creatures of folklore, considered to be particularly concentrated in the areas around Devon and Cornwall, suggesting some Celtic origin for the belief and name. ...

English folktales of the early modern period typically portray elves as small, elusive people with mischievous personalities. They are not evil but might annoy humans or interfere in their affairs. They are sometimes said to be invisible. In this tradition, elves became more or less synonymous with the fairies that originated from native British mythology, for example, the Welsh Ellyll (plural Ellyllon) and Y Dynon Bach Têg. Folklore is the ethnographic concept of the tales, legends, or superstitions current among a particular ethnic population, a part of the oral history of a particular culture. ... The early modern period is a term initially used by historians to refer mainly to the post Late Middle Ages period in Western Europe (Early modern Europe), its first colonies marked by the rise of strong centralized governments and the beginnings of recognizable nation states that are the direct antecedents... by Sophie Anderson For other uses, see Fairy (disambiguation). ... Celtic mythology is the mythology of Celtic polytheism, apparently the religion of the Iron Age Celts. ... This article is about the country. ...

Successively, the word elf, as well as literary term fairy, evolved to a general denotation of various nature spirits like pwcca, hobgoblin, Robin Goodfellow, the Scots brownie, and so forth. These terms, like their relatives in other European languages, are no longer clearly distinguished in popular folklore. Image File history File links To make my small elves coats. ... Image File history File links To make my small elves coats. ... An illustration from Alices Adventures in Wonderland Arthur Rackham (September 19, 1867 â€“ September 6, 1939) was a prolific English book illustrator. ... Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. ... For other uses, see A Midsummer Nights Dream (disambiguation). ... It has been suggested that Puck (Shakespeare) be merged into this article or section. ... Hobgoblin is a term typically applied in folktales to a friendly or amusing goblin. ... Robin Goodfellow in English folklore is a euphemistic personification of a half-tamed, troublesome elf or hob-goblin, a prankster who is the domesticated aspect of Puck. ... A signature Cox Brownie A brownie, brounie/Urisk (Lowland Scots) or Ã¹ruisg/brÃ¹naidh (Scottish Gaelic) is a legendary kind of elf popular in folklore around Scotland and England (especially the north). ... European languages are the object of Eurolinguistics. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ...

Significant for the distancing of the concept of elves from its mythological origins was the influence from literature. In Elizabethan England, William Shakespeare imagined elves as little people. He apparently considered elves and fairies to be the same race. In Henry IV, part 1, act II, scene iv, he has Falstaff call Prince Henry, "you starveling, you elfskin!", and in his A Midsummer Night's Dream, his elves are almost as small as insects. On the other hand, Edmund Spenser applies elf to full-sized beings in The Faerie Queene. The Elizabethan Era is the period associated with the reign of Queen Elizabeth I (1558 - 1603) and is often considered to be a golden age in English history. ... Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. ... Title page of the first quarto (1598) Henry IV, Part 1 is a history play by William Shakespeare. ... Adolf SchrÃ¶dter: Falstaff and his page Sir John Falstaff is a fictional character who appears in three plays by William Shakespeare as a companion to Prince Hal, the future King Henry V. A fat, vainglorious, and cowardly knight, Falstaff leads the apparently wayward Prince Hal into trouble, but he... Henry V of England (16 September 1387 â€“ 31 August 1422) was one of the great warrior kings of the Middle Ages. ... For other uses, see A Midsummer Nights Dream (disambiguation). ... Orders Subclass Apterygota Archaeognatha (bristletails) Thysanura (silverfish) Subclass Pterygota Infraclass Paleoptera (Probably paraphyletic) Ephemeroptera (mayflies) Odonata (dragonflies and damselflies) Infraclass Neoptera Superorder Exopterygota Grylloblattodea (ice-crawlers) Mantophasmatodea (gladiators) Plecoptera (stoneflies) Embioptera (webspinners) Zoraptera (angel insects) Dermaptera (earwigs) Orthoptera (grasshoppers, etc) Phasmatodea (stick insects) Blattodea (cockroaches) Isoptera (termites) Mantodea (mantids) Psocoptera... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... Una and the Lion by Briton RiviÃ¨re The Faerie Queene is an English epic poem by Edmund Spenser, published first in three books in 1590, and later in six books in 1596. ...

The influence of Shakespeare and Michael Drayton made the use of elf and fairy for very small beings the norm. In Victorian literature, elves usually appeared in illustrations as tiny men and women with pointed ears and stocking caps. An example is Andrew Lang's fairy tale Princess Nobody (1884), illustrated by Richard Doyle, where fairies are tiny people with butterfly wings, whereas elves are tiny people with red stocking caps. There were exceptions to this rule however, such as the full-sized elves who appear in Lord Dunsany's The King of Elfland's Daughter. Drayton, 1628 Michael Drayton (1563 â€“ December 23, 1631) was an English poet who came to prominence in the Elizabethan era. ... by Sophie Anderson For other uses, see Fairy (disambiguation). ... Queen Victoria (shown here on the morning of her ascension to the Throne, 20 June 1837) gave her name to the historic era The Victorian era of the United Kingdom marked the height of the British Industrial Revolution and the apex of the British Empire. ... For the former National Basketball Association player, see Andrew Lang (basketball). ... Year 1884 (MDCCCLXXXIV) was a leap year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a leap year starting on Sunday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar). ... Richard Dickie Doyle (September 1824 - December 11, 1883) was a notable Victorian illustrator. ... Superfamilies and families Superfamily Hedyloidea: Hedylidae Superfamily Hesperioidea: Hesperiidae Superfamily Papilionoidea: Papilionidae Pieridae Nymphalidae Lycaenidae Riodinidae A butterfly is an insect of the order Lepidoptera. ... Edward John Moreton Drax Plunkett, 18th Baron Dunsany (24 July 1878 â€“ 25 October 1957) was an Anglo-Irish writer and dramatist, notable for his work in fantasy published under the name Lord Dunsany. ... The King of Elflands Daughter is a 1924 fantasy novel written by Lord Dunsany. ...

There is a legend concerning the Buckthorn vows that if one sprinkles Buckthorn in a circle and then dances within it under a full Moon, an elf will appear. The dancer must notice the elf and say, 'Halt and grant my boon!' before the creature flees. The elf will then grant one wish. Species See text The Buckthorns Rhamnus are a genus (or two genera, if Frangula is treated as distinct) of about 100 species of shrubs or small trees from 1-10 m tall (rarely to 15 m), in the buckthorn family Rhamnaceae. ...

Icelandic elves

Natives of Iceland either believe in elves or are unwilling to rule out their existence.^[30]Several Icelanders believe in huldufólk or “hidden folk”, the elves that dwell in rock formations. If the natives don’t explicitly express their belief, they are certainly reluctant to express disbelief.^[31] A 2006 and 2007 study on superstition by the University of Iceland’s Faculty of Social Sciences supervised by Terry Gunnell (associate folklore professor), reveal that natives would not rule out the existence of elves and ghosts (similar results of a 1974 survey by Professor Erlendur Haraldsson, Fréttabladid reports). Gunnel stated: “Icelanders seem much more open to phenomena like dreaming the future, forebodings, ghosts and elves than other nations.” Gunnell found that Icelandic society believed in supernatural phenomena than other nations than or compared to 1974 times.^[32] For other uses, see Superstition (disambiguation). ... This article is about the paranormal. ... Erlendur Haraldsson is a Professor emeritus Faculty of social science at the University of Iceland who, despite having retired from his former post at the University of Iceland, continues to be an active academic. ...

Scandinavia House, the Nordic Center in New York, will host “The Myths and Magic of Iceland: A Children’s Literature Installation” from November 3, 2007 and March 29, 2008. On October 20, 2007, the Icelandic “Adventureland” beings Skoppa and Skrítla returned to the Scandinavia House (40-minutes). A world premiere “Skoppa and Skrítla Find the Elves,” is set for November 3 in the Scandinavia House.^[33] Scandinavia House - The American-Scandinavian Foundation 58 Park Ave, New York NY Scandinavia House: The Nordic Center in America, The American-Scandinavian Foundations cultural center, is located at 58 Park Avenue, between 37th and 38th streets in midtown Manhattan. ... This article is about the state. ...

Modern elves

Elves at Christmas

In the USA, Canada, and Britain, the modern children's folklore of Santa Claus typically includes diminutive, green-clad elves with pointy ears (and, occasionally, long noses) as Santa's assistants or hired workers. No one knows who wraps the gifts at Christmas but they make toys in a workshop located in the North Pole. In recent years, other toys—usually high-tech toys like computers, video games, DVDs and DVD players, and even mobile phones—have also been depicted as being ready for delivery, but not necessarily made, in the workshop as well. In this portrayal, elves slightly resemble nimble and delicate versions of the dwarves of Norse mythology. This article does not cite any references or sources. ... A typical depiction of Santa Claus. ... For other uses, see Christmas (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see North Pole (disambiguation). ... A personal computer (PC) is a computer whose price, size, and capabilities make it useful for individuals. ... In Norse mythology, the dwarves (Old Norse: dvergar, sing. ...

The vision of the small but crafty Christmas elf has come to influence modern popular conception of elves, and sits side by side with the fantasy elves following Tolkien's work (see below). The American cookie company Keebler has long advertised that its cookies are made by elves in a hollow tree, and Kellogg's, who happens to now be the owner of Keebler, uses the elves of Snap, Crackle, and Pop as mascots of Rice Krispies cereal, and the role of elves as Santa's helpers has continued to be popular, as evidenced by the success of the movie Elf. It should be noted that these elves are referred to as elfish, as opposed to elvish. The Keebler Company is the second-largest cookie and cracker manufacturer in the United States. ... For other things with Kellogg in the name, see Kellogg (disambiguation). ... Snap, Crackle and Pop as they are usually portrayed today. ... A Rice Krispies box Rice Krispies (known as Rice Bubbles in Australia) is a brand of breakfast cereal that has been produced by Kelloggs since 1928. ... Elf is a 2003 Christmas-themed comedy film directed by Jon Favreau and released in the US on November 7, 2003. ...

For other uses, see Christmas (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Christmas (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Christmas (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Christmas (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Christmas (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Christmas (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Christmas (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Christmas (disambiguation). ... Image File history File linksMetadata JuletrÃ¦et. ... Topics in Christianity Movements Â· Denominations Â· Other religions Ecumenism Â· Preaching Â· Prayer Music Â· Liturgy Â· Calendar Symbols Â· Art Â· Criticism Important figures Apostle Paul Â· Church Fathers Constantine Â· Athanasius Â· Augustine Anselm Â· Aquinas Â· Palamas Â· Luther Calvin Â· Wesley Arius Â· Marcion of Sinope Archbishop of Canterbury Â· Catholic Pope Coptic Pope Â· Ecumenical Patriarch Christianity Portal This box: Christianity is... The Nativity by Caravaggio, 1609. ... A traditional nativity scene from Naples, Italy A nativity scene, also called a crib or crÃ¨che (meaning crib or manger in French) generally refers to any depiction of the birth or birthplace of Jesus. ... This article is about Jesus of Nazareth. ... Virgin Mary redirects here. ... For other uses, see Saint Joseph (disambiguation). ... This article is about the archangel Gabriel. ... Three Kings, or Three Wise Men redirects here. ... Anbetung der Hirten (Adoration of the Shepherds) by Carlo Crivelli (1490) The Adoration of the shepherds, in Christian iconography, is a scene in which shepherds are near witnesses to the birth of Jesus, at his birthplace, typically depicted as a barn, near Bethlehem. ... Adoration of the Magi by Florentine painter Giotto di Bondone (1267-1337). ... Herod the Great. ... The Holy Innocents by Giotto di Bondone. ... For other uses, see Nicholas. ... Twelfth Night is a holiday in some branches of Christianity marking the coming of the Epiphany, concluding the Twelve Days of Christmas, and is defined by the Oxford English Dictionary as the evening of the fifth of January, preceding Twelfth Day, the eve of the Epiphany, formerly the last day... The Wise Men (Magi) adoring the infant Jesus. ... Advent (from the Latin Adventus, implicitly coupled with Redemptoris, the coming of the Saviour) is a holy season of the Christian church, the period of expectant waiting and preparation for the celebration of the Nativity of Christ, also known as the season of Christmas. ... Christmastide (also Christmas or the Christmas season) is one of the seasons of the liturgical year of some Christian churches. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Excerpt from Josiah Kings The Examination and Tryal of Father Christmas (1686), published shortly after Christmas was reinstated as a holy day in England Father Christmas is the name used in the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, and several other Commonwealth countries, for the gift-bringing figure of Christmas... For other uses, see Nicholas. ... A typical depiction of Santa Claus. ... Mrs. ... Santa Claus reindeer are a team of reindeer which pull his sleigh and help him deliver Christmas gifts. ... Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer is a popular Christmas story about Santa Claus ninth and lead reindeer who possesses an unusually red colored nose that gives off its own light that is powerful enough to illuminate the teams path through inclement weather. ... Read psychedelic section for amazing info! on the experiments of real elves good for school projects This article is about the small mythical creature, for the 2003 film, see Elf (film). ... For other uses, see North Pole (disambiguation). ... National anthem SÃ¡mi soga lÃ¡vlla Languages Sami, Norwegian, Swedish, Finnish, Russian Area ca. ... City Rovaniemi (1960) Administrative Province Province of Lapland Historical Province Lappland Area - Total - Land - Water Ranked 5th (municipalities), and 1st (cities) 8,016 kmÂ² 7,601 kmÂ² 415 kmÂ² Population - Total (01/2006) - Density Ranked 13th 58,500 7. ... Frosty the Snowman is a popular Christmas song written by Steve Jack Rollins and Steve Nelson in 1950. ... The Grinch is a popular cartoon character created by Dr. Seuss. ... Ebenezer Scrooge encounters Ignorance and Want in A Christmas Carol Ebenezer Scrooge is the main character in Charles Dickens 1843 novel, A Christmas Carol. ... The Twelve Days of Christmas and the associated evenings of those twelve days (Twelve-tide), are the festive days beginning the evening of Christmas Day (December 25) through the morning of Epiphany on (January 6). ... For other uses, see Christmas tree (disambiguation). ... This does not cite its references or sources. ... A chocolate yule log. ... Stockings hung by the chimney with care A Christmas stocking is an empty sock or sock-shaped bag that children in the United States and some other cultures hang on Christmas Eve so that Santa can fill it with small toys, candy, fruit, coins, or other small gifts when he... Christmas bauble (called a Christmas ball in American English) Christmas ornaments are decorations (usually made of glass, metal, wood or ceramics) that are used to festoon a Christmas tree. ... Christmas lights (also sometimes called fairy lights, twinkle lights or holiday lights in the United States) are strands of electric lights used to decorate homes, public/commercial buildings and Christmas trees during the Christmas season. ... Christmas markets have recently started to appear in French cities (here, Toulouse). ... The term Christmas around the world redirects here. ... The following is an incomplete list of Christmas songs (hit singles and tracks) recorded by well known and obscure artists, many of which have hit on various charts around the world. ... For other uses, see Society (disambiguation). ... Christmas controversy refers to publicized controversy surrounding public acknowledgment or celebration of the Christmas holiday in media, advertising, government, and various secular environments. ... Christmas Creep is the commercial phenomenon of merchants advertising for Holiday Specials earlier and earlier every year. ... A cross, left near Ypres in Belgium in 1999, to commemorate the site of the Christmas Truce in 1914. ... Black Friday is the day after Thanksgiving and is the beginning of the traditional Christmas shopping season in the United States. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... The Christmas Day (Trading) Act 2004 is an Act of Parliament of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that prevents shops over 280 sq m/3,000 sq ft from opening on Christmas Day. ... List of winter festivals: This is an incomplete list of festivals and holidays that take place during the winter in the northern hemisphere, especially those commemorating the season. ...

Elves in modern fantasy

Modern fantasy literature has revived the elves as a race of semi-divine beings of human stature. Fantasy elves are different from Norse elves, but are more akin to that older mythology than to folktale elves – they are unlikely to sneak in at night and help a cobbler mend his shoes. In many works of modern fantasy, elves are a race of semi-divine humanoid beings. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (580x878, 47 KB) This work is copyrighted. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (580x878, 47 KB) This work is copyrighted. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Elrond Half-elven is a fictional character in J. R. R. Tolkiens Middle-earth legendarium. ... Location of Rivendell in Middle-earth marked in red Rivendell (Sindarin: Imladris) is an Elven outpost in Middle-earth, a fictional realm created by J. R. R. Tolkien. ... This article is about the Peter Jackson films. ... For other uses, see Fantasy (disambiguation). ...

The first appearance of modern fantasy elves occurred in The King of Elfland's Daughter a 1924 novel by Lord Dunsany. The next modern work featuring elves was The Hobbit, a 1937 novel by J. R. R. Tolkien and elves played a major role in many of Tolkien's later works, notably The Lord of the Rings. Tolkien's elves were followed by grim Norse-style elves of human size in Poul Anderson's 1954 fantasy novel The Broken Sword. The King of Elflands Daughter is a 1924 fantasy novel written by Lord Dunsany. ... Best known as Lord Dunsany, Edward John Moreton Drax Plunkett, 18th Baron of Dunsany (July 24, 1878â€“October 25, 1957) was an Irish writer and dramatist notable for his work in fantasy and horror. ... This article is about the book. ... Tolkien redirects here. ... This article is about the novel. ... Poul William Anderson (November 25, 1926â€“July 31, 2001) was an American science fiction author of the genres Golden Age. ... The Broken Sword is a fantasy novel written by the American writer Poul Anderson in 1954. ...

Though Tolkien originally conceived his Elves as more fairy-like than they afterwards became, he also based them on the god-like and human-sized Ljósálfar of Norse mythology. His Elves were conceived as a race of beings similar in appearance to humans but fairer and wiser, with greater spiritual powers, keener senses, and a closer empathy with nature. They are great smiths and fierce warriors on the side of good. In the works of J. R. R. Tolkien, the Calaquendi (singular Calaquend) are the Elves of Light, those who dwelt in Valinor. ... Norse, Viking or Scandinavian mythology comprises the indigenous pre-Christian religion, beliefs and legends of the Scandinavian peoples, including those who settled on Iceland, where most of the written sources for Norse mythology were assembled. ... This article or section is in need of attention from an expert on the subject. ...

Tolkien's Elves of Middle-earth are immortal in the sense that they are not vulnerable to disease or the effects of old age. Although they can be killed in battle like humans and may alternately wither away from grief, their spirits only pass to the blessed land in the west called Valinor, whereas humans' souls leave the world entirely. In J. R. R. Tolkiens legendarium, an Elf is an individual member of one of the races that inhabit the lands of Arda. ... This article is about living for infinite period of time. ... Valinor (meaning Land of the Valar) is a fictional location from J. R. R. Tolkiens legendarium, the realm of the Valar in Aman. ...

Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings (1954-1955) became astoundingly popular and was much imitated. In the 1960s and afterwards, elves similar to those in Tolkien's novels became staple non-human characters in high fantasy works and in fantasy role-playing games. This article is about the novel. ... Year 1954 (MCMLIV) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1955 (MCMLV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays the 1955 Gregorian calendar). ... The 1960s decade refers to the years from 1960 to 1969. ... High fantasy is a subgenre of fantasy fiction that is set in invented or parallel worlds. ... This article is about games in which one plays the role of a character. ...

Tolkien's Elves were enemies of goblins (orcs) and had a longstanding quarrel with the Dwarves; these motifs often reappear in Tolkien-inspired works. For other uses, see Goblin (disambiguation). ... In J. R. R. Tolkiens fantasy writings, Orcs or Orks are a race of creatures who are used as soldiers and henchmen by both the greater and lesser villains of The Silmarillion and The Lord of the Rings â€” Morgoth, Sauron and Saruman. ... In J. R. R. Tolkiens fictional universe of Middle-earth, Dwarves (also known as the Naugrim) are beings of short stature who all possess beards and are often friendly with Hobbits, although long suspicious of Elves. ...

Tolkien is also responsible for reviving the older and less-used terms elven and elvish rather than Edmund Spenser's invented elfin and elfish. He probably preferred the word elf over fairy because elf is of Anglo-Saxon origin while fairy entered English from French. He certainly felt the need to differentiate elves, as only one kind of the creatures of Faërie, from other inhabitants of that land, and lamented the confusion in English between Fairy (i.e., Faërie) and fairy (i.e., fay or elf). Tolkien also wished to distinguish his elves from the diminutive airy-winged fairies popularized by Drayton’s Nymphidia.^[34] This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... Old English redirects here. ...

Post-Tolkien fantasy elves (popularized by the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game) tend to be more beautiful and wiser than humans, with sharper senses and perceptions. Often elves do not possess facial or body hair, and are consequently perceived to be androgynous. D&D redirects here. ... This article is about games in which one plays the role of a character. ...

A hallmark of fantasy elves is also their long and pointed ears (a convention begun with a note of Tolkien's that the ears of elves were "leaf-shaped"). The length and shape of these ears varies depending on the artist or medium in question. For example, while most elves in Western fantasy have ears only slightly longer than humans', in various other areas of fantasy they are also depicted to have very long ears that stand out at dramatic angles from their heads. For other uses, see Ear (disambiguation). ...

Half-elves and divergent races of elves, such as high elves and dark elves, were also popularized at this time; in particular, the evil drow of Dungeons & Dragons have inspired the dark elves of many other works of fantasy. In Norse mythology, a half-elf is the offspring of an elf and a human. ... Many fantasy worlds have High Elf races: Calaquendi are the High Elves in J. R. R. Tolkiens Lord of the Rings The High Elves are a race in Warhammer Fantasy High Elves are also magic-addicted Night Elves with pale skin in the Warcraft Universe that were exiled from... Dark Elves are often malicious counterparts to the Light Elves (or High Elves) in modern popular culture originally inspired by the SvartÃ¡lfar, figures in Germanic paganism. ... This article refers to the fictional elven race from Dungeons & Dragons. ...

Fair elves of the Tolkien mold have become standardized staple characters of modern fantasy to such an extent that diverging from the established conceptions of how an elf is supposed to look and behave has become an end in itself for certain works of fantasy which aspire to innovation. For examples of the various ways modern fantasy writers have achieved this, see the main article. In many works of modern fantasy, elves are a race of semi-divine humanoid beings. ...

It is worth noting that those things described as being of or related to these fair elves are referred to as "elven", as opposed to "elfish" (a term more closely associated with the sprite-like elves of medieval conception). Also Tolkien based Elves are found in Christopher Paolini's Inheritence Trilogy.

In Paolini's books, elves have their own city which is located in Du Weldenvarden. The trees are very beautiful and the noble elves treat them like equals. They have a festival hosted under the Menoa Tree every century to honor their pact with the dragons. Every elf is required to bring a piece of work that they have created. It can be a piece of art, a poem, etc. But it should not be created with magic, such is the requirement. There is a story of the Menoa Tree of how it gained its intelligence. "Once an elf named Linnea fell in love with a man. She was a master of singing to plants. The man fell in love with the old woman, Linnea, and for a time they were happy. But the man wanted someone his age and found another woman. When Linnea found out, she got so mad that she killed the man. Horrified by what she had done, she went to the Menoa Tree, and sang for 3 days and 3 nights, until she sang herself into the tree." The elves also have the power to sing in the ancient language. They give the tree or plant their strength and are able to mold it into any shape they want to. They can harness the power of the ancient language to create extraordinary magic.

Elves in psychedelic experience

During strong psychedelic experiences, meetings with mythological entities of different kinds are relatively common. Elves are no exception to this. Elves and fairies are highly associated with magic mushrooms, (especially Fly Agaric) both in art and in some cases of psychedelic experiences. The green fairy is also associated with the liquor absinthe in that due to absinthe's green color 'the green fairy' (or in French 'la fée verte') are common terms for the drink. A psychedelic experience, or trip, is characterized by the perception of aspects of ones mind previously unknown, or by the creative exuberance of the mind liberated from its ordinary fetters. ... Magic mushrooms are also known as sacred mushrooms, psychedelic mushrooms, and, more generally, hallucinogenic mushrooms. ... Binomial name Amanita muscaria Amanita muscaria is a basidiomycete mushroom of the genus Amanita. ... Spirits redirects here. ... A reservoir glass filled with a naturally-colored verte, next to an absinthe spoon. ...

Machine elves, a term first introduced by writer and psychedelic researcher Terrence McKenna, is used to describe the presumed other-worldly intelligent beings which subjects sometimes feel they encounter during psychedelic experiences (especially those induced by naturally-occurring tryptamines, such as DMT or psilocybin), as well as during shamanic and alien abduction experiences. Machine Elves (also known as self transforming machine elves) is a term coined by the writer and philosopher Terence McKenna to describe the entities that he claims one becomes aware of after having taken tryptamine based psychedelic drugs such as DMT. According to McKenna, their constant dance creates the reality... Machine Elves (also known as self transforming machine elves) is a term coined by the writer and philosopher Terence McKenna to describe the entities that he claims one becomes aware of after having taken tryptamine based psychedelic drugs such as DMT. According to McKenna, their constant dance creates the reality... Terence McKenna (November 16, 1946 - April 3, 2000) was a writer and philosopher. ... Tryptamine (3-(2-aminoethyl)indole) is a monoamine compound that is widespread in nature. ... Dimethyltryptamine (DMT), also known as N,N-dimethyltryptamine, is a psychedelic tryptamine. ... Psilocybin (also known as psilocybine) is a psychedelic alkaloid of the tryptamine family, found in psilocybin mushrooms. ... Specifically, Shaman (saman) is a term in Evenk, Manchu and other Manchu-Tungus languages for an intellectual and spiritual figure; who usually possess power and influence on other peoples in the tribe and performs several functions, one of which is analogous to the function of a healer in other cultures. ... The Abduction Phenomenon is as umbrella term used to describe a number of kidnap individuals--sometimes called abductees--usually for medical testing or for sexual reproduction procedures. ...

References

Old Norse (Eddic): The Brothers Grimm on a 1000DM banknote. ... The Deutsches WÃ¶rterbuch was first compiled by the Grimm Brothers. ... Harald I (b. ... Heimskringla is the Old Norse name of a collection of sagas recorded in Iceland around 1225 by the poet and historian Snorri Sturluson (1179-1242). ... A statue of Snorri Sturluson by Norwegian sculptor Gustav Vigeland was erected at Reykholt in 1947. ... The Owl Edition Nordisk familjebok (en. ... Year 1926 (MCMXXVI) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Thomas Keightley (1789 - 1872) was a historian, educated at Trinity College, Dublin, who wrote works on mythology and folklore, and at the request of Dr Thomas Arnold of Rugby, a series of text-books on English, Greek, and other histories. ... Thomas Keightley (1789 - 1872) was a historian, educated at Trinity College, Dublin, who wrote works on mythology and folklore, and at the request of Dr Thomas Arnold of Rugby, a series of text-books on English, Greek, and other histories. ... William Collins (1721 - 1759), English poet, was educated at Winchester and Oxford, moved to London in the 1740s and spent the last years of his life in Chichester. ...

Hans Christian Andersen, (April 2, 1805 - August 4, 1875) was a Danish author and poet famous for his fairy tales. ... For the former National Basketball Association player, see Andrew Lang (basketball). ...

Contents

Elves in Norse mythology

Scandinavian elves

German elves

Dutch elves

English elves

Icelandic elves

Modern elves

Elves at Christmas

Elves in modern fantasy

Elves in psychedelic experience

References

See also

Contents

Elves in Norse mythology GA_googleFillSlot("encyclopedia_square");

Scandinavian elves

German elves

Dutch elves

English elves

Icelandic elves

Modern elves

Elves at Christmas

Elves in modern fantasy

Elves in psychedelic experience

References

See also

Elves in Norse mythology