Mountainside Ghosts
Shepherds have often noticed
hauntings in mountain shacks and caves. Among these ghosts is
Starkaður from Stóruvöllum in Bárðardal, who died when Starkaðurs
rock fell on him at the Gnjúpverja-grazing area and Egill who
plunged to his death in Loðmundur and now haunts
Landmannahellir (cave).
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Nude appearences
In the year of 1853
Guðný, the maid at Ólafsvellir went out to the church to fetch a
book for her master. Upon her arrival she saw a farmer from the
vicinity, Vigfús Eiríksson of Reykir sitting absolutely naked on
the churchbench by the altar. Startled, she looked away, but as
she looked back he had disappeared. |
Stableghosts
There are many
stableghosts in Iceland. Many of them are farmers who have lost
their lives in or around stables. One of them is Bryggjudraugurinn
at Haukadalur in
Biskupstungur, who was said to have been sexually perverted as he
would only approach men from behind.
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Scientific Ghosts
Medical science gave
the opportunity of waking up ghosts in test tubes or beakers. One
such ghost is Eyjaselsmóri of Fljótsdalshérað. Tungubrestur of
Langanes was also considered a medically produced ghost!
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Ghosts in Animal
Disguises
Ghosts can appear
in all living shapes or forms. Reanimations had it in their nature
to transform, and so did Kotslafsi from
Rangárvöllir; he would
appear as a dog and Ranadraugurinn in Stokkseyri would appear as a
grey mare.
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Sea Ghosts
Men who lost their
lives at sea would appear to their loved ones wet and sad looking.
Others who had drowned at sea would turn into vicious and mean
ghosts, such as Skipárdraugurinn in
Stokkseyri who would attack travelers by the lake.
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Móri - The Male
Ghost
Icelandic male
ghosts are usually called Mórar. The name originates from their
clothing, as they wore clothing not unlike the Icelandic poor
people centuries ago.
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Skotta - The Female
Ghost
Icelandic female
ghosts are usually called Skotta. The name originates from their
clothing as they would wear brownish national costumes with the
head dress turned backwards.
Skotta often wears red socks and sucks on her fingers.
Among the most famous Skotta in Iceland is the
Mývatnsskotta, Ívars Gunna and Móhúsaskotta.
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Talking Skeletons
In the 18th century,
the complete skeleton of a woman was found buried next to a new
grave in
Skálholt. The unusual thing about this skeleton was, that it
was perfectly intact. It was placed underneath a bench in the
church, but later in the evening some schoolboys challenged a maid
servant to go to the church and fetch the skeleton.
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Tightwads in
Shrouds
Tightwads and
several different ghosts that do sometimes rise up from
their graves are often seen wearing white shrouds and today
ghosts are generally regarded as being white in colour.
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Last Tale Of
Kampholtsmóri
Once again there's a tale to tell, and Kampholtsmóri is still
around and well...
In the year 2000 a
project was scheduled to tear down some old buildings, farms and
outhouses in south Iceland that had been abandoned and left in
decay. The project was led by only the best, Ræktunarsamband Flóa
& Skeiða. Every day for a couple of weeks, the director would meet
his staff in the morning and tell them which buildings to tear
down that day. The men where startled when they were asked to tear
down the old farm Kotið and the following day the old farm
Hjáleigan. Then one morning, the director told them to tear down
an old farm and outhouse in Kampholt, which had not been used for
some thirty years...
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Brennivín Ghosts
Brennivín is the original Icelandic
Schnapps.
One of many well
known at Kolviðarhóll was the Brennivín Ghost. He was said to have
been the son of a Danish attendant, at the Sunchenberg store in
Reykjavík. His duties lay in keeping count of liquor in store, but
was also a liquor lover himself. He used to take horsebackrides to
Kolvidarhóll and to Marardalur every summer to quench his thirst
for liquor, considering these trips to be his best. This man
passed away in his bed in Reykjavík, but the following winter two
men from the south of Iceland were riding over the meadow, heading
for the shelter on
Kolviðarhóll to rest.
Sources: Gost center Stokkseyri
Outlaws -
Thieves |
