The Ledgend of Fenrir
Fenrir plays a key role during the events of Ragnarök
Fenrir is a colossal wolf in Norse mythology, born to the trickster god Loki and the giantess Angrboda. From the moment of his birth, the gods knew Fenrir was destined to bring great destruction. As he grew rapidly in size and strength, the gods became fearful and sought to bind him. They tricked Fenrir into allowing them to chain him, promising it was just a test of his strength. After breaking several chains, the gods finally used a magical ribbon called Gleipnir, which was made from impossible materials like the sound of a cat’s footfall and the roots of a mountain.
Though Fenrir sensed treachery and demanded that one of the gods place their hand in his mouth as a gesture of good faith, the gods complied, and the brave god Tyr sacrificed his hand. Bound by Gleipnir, Fenrir remained restrained until the prophesied Ragnarok—the end of the world—when he would break free, devour Odin, and bring chaos to the world before being slain by Odin's son, Vidar. Fenrir symbolizes uncontrollable forces of nature and the inevitability of fate in Norse mythology.
NIsse
Nisse, the watchful and mischievous spirits of Scandinavian folklore, protect homes and farms in exchange for respect and a simple bowl of porridge.
Nisse are small, gnome-like spirits from Scandinavian folklore, deeply rooted in the rural traditions of Norway, Denmark, and Sweden. Often depicted as short, elderly men with long beards, they are typically dressed in simple, peasant clothing, with a signature red or gray woolen cap. Nisse are believed to live on farms and in households, acting as protective guardians of the home, barn, and land.
These spirits are known for their industrious nature, assisting with chores around the farm, caring for livestock, and ensuring the farm's prosperity. However, Nisse are also known to be temperamental and highly sensitive to how they are treated by the humans they protect. They expect to be treated with respect and gratitude, particularly on special occasions like Christmas Eve, when they traditionally receive a bowl of porridge with butter. Failing to leave out this offering or showing disrespect can anger the Nisse, leading them to engage in mischievous or even vengeful behavior, such as hiding tools, souring milk, or causing accidents.
Nisse are also known to have a close connection with the natural and spiritual world, embodying the old belief that humans must coexist respectfully with the unseen forces that influence their daily lives. The Nisse, with their blend of benevolence and mischief, represent the balance between kindness and retribution, reminding people of the importance of gratitude and respect in maintaining harmony within the home.
Odin: God of War
Odin, the chief of the Norse gods, is revered for his wisdom, sacrifice, and relentless pursuit of knowledge.
Odin is one of the most important gods in Norse mythology, often regarded as the chief of the Aesir, the principal pantheon of gods. He is the god of wisdom, war, poetry, and magic. Known for his relentless pursuit of knowledge, Odin sacrificed one of his eyes in exchange for wisdom at Mimir’s well and hung himself on the World Tree, Yggdrasil, for nine days and nights to learn the secrets of the runes.
Odin is often depicted as an old, one-eyed man with a long beard, wearing a cloak and a wide-brimmed hat. He is accompanied by his two ravens, Huginn (thought) and Muninn (memory), who fly across the world each day and bring him news. He also has two wolves, Geri and Freki, and rides an eight-legged horse named Sleipnir. Odin’s hall, Valhalla, is where he receives the souls of fallen warriors, known as the Einherjar, who prepare for the final battle of Ragnarok.
Odin embodies the qualities of wisdom, sacrifice, and leadership but also has a complex and sometimes contradictory nature. He is a god of war who seeks peace, a wise ruler who engages in trickery, and a seeker of knowledge who is constantly aware of the limits of his understanding.
First time in Norway
It all begins with an idea.
It all started when some of my relatives from Norway came to visit me and my dad back in 2014. I was only 17 and they told me that I could visit Norway anytime and they would be happy to host me. I swear, I must have gained consciousness at that point because everything became clear. As Liz Lemon once said, “I want to go to there.”
Traveling to Norway became my biggest dream. To be honest, I didn’t start learning the language until I was out of high school. I did try and learn, but nothing really stuck and it wasn’t very structured. It probably wasn’t until 2017 that I finally decided to try and learn Norwegian. Mind you, most Norwegians are better English speakers than most native English speakers. It’s not a necessity to learn the language, but I believe it to be a courtesy. Anyway, my language learning journey is still ongoing and that could be its own blog post.
Fast forward to 2019. This year was not a good one for me. I won’t get into all of the details, but some are important for the overall story. Long story short, my mom had asked me, “If money wasn’t a problem, where would you want to be right now?” And without missing a beat I said, “Norway.” She promised me she would pay for my plane ticket. I had been in the hospital for three weeks at that point (I’m okay! Don’t worry). Another important point is, my father never traveled to Norway. My mother had told me and I had heard it from my father. I never found out why, but he wanted to travel to Norway, but never did. At this point in 2019, he knew I had contact with most of my relatives there via Facebook. And he also knew I was learning Norwegian. But once I got out of the hospital, I told him my plan to travel to Norway. He was so excited for me.
A picture of my father I brought with me to Norway. The mountain is named "Storhesten" and is located where his parents came from.
Unfortunately, my father passed away in the summer of 2019. I can’t get into what that was like or else I’ll never finish this blog post. But I made sure to bring him with me. I was more determined than ever.
2020: Well, we all know what happened in 2020. I was heartbroken when I found out that we wouldn’t be able to travel. I had been planning and then Covid hit and countries were restricting travel.
2021-2022: Just continuing my language learning.
July 2023: This was it. Finally traveling to Norway! The weeks leading up to this trip were exciting. Relatives from Norway were messaging me and asking me questions. Remember, I only met three relatives back in 2014. This would be the first time I would meet some of them. I was excited but nervous at the same time. It was the first time I ever travelled out of the country. I won’t go into all of the planning etc. That can be another blog post! ;)
The trip was amazing! We were in Oslo, Lillehammer, and Bergen. I ordered a camera for the trip and I took so many pictures. Bergen was my favorite city. So beautiful.
