The Revenge of the Rejected: The Rise, Fall and Background Context of Icelandic Beliefs in Supernatural Family Followers
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.3986/SMS20262905Keywords:
Icelandic legends, memorates, family ghosts, clothing, legend distribution, mórar, skottur, folk beliefsAbstract
Buildings in Iceland in the past tended to have a limited lifespan resulting in the fact that beliefs in ghosts or spirits associated with buildings also used to be limited. Instead of such beliefs, Iceland has numerous legends about spirits that attach themselves to particular families, causing a wide range of problems over a number of generations. Interestingly enough, such beliefs do not seem to be encountered in neighbouring countries. This article contains an overview of the legends concerning these spirits, commonly referred to as mórar (peat-reds: male) and skottur (tasselled hats: female), which sometimes have a background in the mistreatment of the poor by those who are wealthier, or the rejection of an unwanted lover. Attention is paid to the nature and distribution of these legends, the potential reasons for their apparent uniqueness, and why these beliefs seem to be dwindling (but not totally disappearing) in modern Icelandic society.
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