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The Curse of the Hítardals-Skotta


After outdated pals conflict after falling out, a curse is put upon the opposite. For generations, the Hítardals-Skotta is claimed to have haunted their household and village, typically even mentioned to be behind their deaths. 

As soon as there was a priest in Hítardal referred to as Vigfús Jónsson, the one behind the primary Icelandic youngsters’s ebook within the 18th century. It is a valley west of Iceland and there’s a priest residence there with the identical title. Hítardalur turned a vicarage and was thought of probably the greatest within the nation. Many outstanding clergymen served there, a few of whom have been well-known students. The city of Hítardalur is thought for being the location of the deadliest fireplace in Icelandic historical past on 30 September 1148 the place greater than 70 folks perished. 

Learn extra: Take a look at all ghost tales from Iceland

One time, considered one of his closest pals from his schooldays who additionally labored as a priest someplace east was accused of against the law and disrobed on the Althing parliament. It isn’t actually mentioned what sort of crime it was. 

After old friends clash after falling out, a curse is put upon the other. For generations, the Hítardals-Skotta is said to have haunted their family and village, sometimes even said to be behind their deaths. After old friends clash after falling out, a curse is put upon the other. For generations, the Hítardals-Skotta is said to have haunted their family and village, sometimes even said to be behind their deaths. 
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Vigfús was current within the courtroom and watched his buddy be sentenced and ultimately he attacked his former buddy. Maybe he was drunk, or simply upset in regards to the crimes of the buddy he thought he knew. He grabbed his sleeve and the buddy additionally turned offended. 

He mentioned: You, who was speculated to be my buddy, have been the primary to seize my gown. You may be regarded simply in addition to me within the close to future. 

With these phrases, he cursed his outdated buddy and a Skotta was despatched on his behalf as a vengeful spirit to hang-out him and his household.  

Fylgur/Fylgja: The Previous Norse Ghost

There have been many several types of ghosts in Norse mythology and that the vikings believed in. One among them was the Fylgjur or Fylgja ghost, or Attending Spirits that we are able to discover traces again in Iceland for the reason that twelfth century. These have been initially a ghost of a really bodily substance that interacted with the actual world as in the event that they have been part of it nonetheless. 

Learn Additionally: Take a look at the Irish Fetch ghost, that has an enormous resemblance to the norse Fylgja. 

Fylgja hooked up themselves to those who they haunted. They may additionally connect themselves to buildings and even complete cities. Many tales additionally speak about it being a generational haunting the place the ghost decides to hang-out the entire descendants of the unique particular person it cursed. Most frequently the feminine line of the household. Maybe due to its origin as a feminine spirit. 

After old friends clash after falling out, a curse is put upon the other. For generations, the Hítardals-Skotta is said to have haunted their family and village, sometimes even said to be behind their deaths. After old friends clash after falling out, a curse is put upon the other. For generations, the Hítardals-Skotta is said to have haunted their family and village, sometimes even said to be behind their deaths. 
Icelandic Ghosts and Ghouls: Fylgja or the draugr ghosts hooked up themselves to those who they haunted. They may additionally connect themselves to buildings and even complete cities. Many tales additionally speak about it being a generational haunting the place the ghost decides to hang-out the entire descendants of the unique particular person it cursed. Most frequently the feminine line of the household. // An illustration to the Icelandic legend of the Skeleton in Hólar Church (Beinagrindin í Hólakirkju). From Icelandic Legends : Collected by Jón Arnason, illustrated by Jules Worms.

Within the Fylgjur tales from the center ages, the spirits could possibly be a useful one, nearly like a messenger to assist with the particular person’s path of life, some form of totem animal or guiding spirit. However when the folklorist of Iceland began accumulating outdated oral tales from farmers within the seventeenth century, the Fylgjur ghosts had drastically modified from its pagan outdated norse roots, all through time, non secular perception and superstition. 

One factor that actually modified was the Fylgjur’s goal of haunting the residing, and it was not often to be of any assist. Many tales speak about how they have been wronged and it triggered their demise. They then got here again to take revenge and have been harmful, even lethal. 

The Haunting Begins

After this it went all downhill for Reverend Vigfúsi who ended up not taking good care of his youngsters as they have been promised to die younger due to the ghost haunting them. Collectively along with his spouse,  Katrin Thordardottir, that they had at the least 5 sons and a daughter. One after the other they died by the hands of the curse, materializing as a feminine determine with a spear on her head and a hook them as they died.

This triggered Reverend Vigfús and his spouse a whole lot of grief, however nothing could possibly be executed about it because the ghost they named Skotta harmed each males and beast in Hítardal the place she adopted the folks of the village with shiny lights and in poor health intentions.

Feminine Icelandic Ghosts

One of many in style names for the feminine ghosts was Skotta that actually means to dangle, like hair or a tail. This comes from the standard Icelandic headwear girls wore along with the Faldbúningur attire worn for the reason that seventeenth century. Besides the ghosts are mentioned to have the headgear on backwards so it streams behind her like a tail. 

After old friends clash after falling out, a curse is put upon the other. For generations, the Hítardals-Skotta is said to have haunted their family and village, sometimes even said to be behind their deaths. After old friends clash after falling out, a curse is put upon the other. For generations, the Hítardals-Skotta is said to have haunted their family and village, sometimes even said to be behind their deaths. 
The Skotta Ghost: Icelandic lady within the 18th century faldbúningur with the spaðafaldur cap that the Skotta typically are described carrying.

Skotta falls underneath the Previous Norse Mythology of a Fylgja, that have been supernatural spirits that adopted or latched onto folks. They could possibly be animals, they could possibly be goddesses or are available desires. 

However the tales of the Fylga advanced and once we examine Skotta, they weren’t like totem animals or somebody coming along with your prophecy like within the outdated sagas. Icelandic ghosts are sometimes described as being not like apparitions, however in actual flesh that interacted with the residing. And once we examine Skotta, the feminine model, she was extremely harmful and in addition lethal.

Folks Chosen to be Haunted

In Reverend Vigfús’s house that they had a son named Eiríkur. He grew up and by no means had Skotta with him and it was by no means observed that Skotta adopted him or any of his descendants

Eiríkur later turned a priest at Reykholt and appeared to have been at peace. However Hítardal and the house of the clergymen appeared to be eternally haunted. After Reverend Vigfús Jónsson’s demise at 69 on 2. January in 1776, the ghost adopted the place all through time of the following tenants like Reverend Halldór and Reverend Björn, after which Reverend Björn’s sons, Ólafi in Ferjukot and Reverend Benedikt 

Particularly the farmer Hannes at Hamrend in Miðdálar looks like he was notably bothered by the ghost. Hannes was affected by a horrible sickness for a very long time, which led to his demise, and the Scots have been speculated to have performed varied pranks on him. Then when Hannes died, blaming the ghost, his brothers have been invited, however they left instantly and the funeral was exterior, principally on the urging of Ólaf’s spouse Sigríða. 

Because the funeral procession for Hannes occurred, there was a employee in Hamraendi on the time referred to as Þórhalli. He all of the sudden felt that his hand was being taken, and this was accompanied by such a strangeness that he turned very uncomfortable and in poor health. From then on evidently Þórhalli didn’t fare effectively, though when the primary written tales about this ghost have been collected, he was nonetheless alive. Evidently by then, she is beginning to fade and that she has nearly nothing to put on.

The Ghosts Groups Up

As soon as each names, Hítardals-Skotta and Hvítárvalla-Skotta, got here collectively at a marriage. One of many invitees who was there noticed that they took the meals from the plates of the company throughout the celebration with out them being conscious. However as a result of the person had one thing with him, he wounded them each exterior the door and left them standing there and you would see, however not one of the few dishes have been completed, and on prime of that he made them spit in entrance of one another for mockery and laughter in entrance of the company. to others. Within the second time, they fought names for methods, however it’s not talked about how that sport ended.

Learn additionally: Hvítárvellir-Skotta involves Hang-out a Household for over 120 Years

The Final Story from Hítardals-Skotta

One other dwell witness to this story when it first was written down was from a Margrét in Selárdal. Apparently, once you journey south from Hítardal over the so-called Bjúg, you go proper by the meadows in Selárdal. Now it so occurs that when one rides south from Hítardalur over the so-called Bjúgur, one passes proper by the meadows in Selárdal.

One summer time Benedikt, as so typically earlier than, was mowing the meadows along with his folks, whereas the livestock grazed simply in entrance. Then he says: “Now quickly somebody can be coming from Hítardalur,”—one thing he had typically been within the behavior of predicting, and it had all the time come to move. Instantly after he says: “I want that she, that wretch over there, wouldn’t kill my sheep,” and at that very second he flings away the scythe, and the sheep are startled, with one ewe leaping into the air. Benedikt runs to the river and drowns her within the stream that flows close by, after which mutters a bit over her. Did he end the ghost off? Or maybe she remains to be roaming the rugged hillsides and wanders alongside the windy shores?

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References:

Íslenzkar þjóðsögur og æfintýri/Draugasögur/Hítardals-Skotta – Wikiheimild

Bryan—Icelandic Fylgjur Tales and a Doable Previous Norse Context

Rev Vigfus Jonsson (1706–1776) • FamilySearch

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