In Iceland, elves are called the huldufólk (the hidden folk). They are mysterious and mischievous, at times acting helpful and at other times playing tricks. Tradition says they make their homes in the rocks that cover the island. For centuries, the wee folk lived in the dancing shadows of hearth fires as farmers entertained wide-eyed children with tales of shenanigans while warning them not to stray too far from home, lest they disappear into elfland, never to return.

Modernization brought the harsh glare of electric lights and TV sets, and elf encounters grew fewer. Nevertheless, the tradition lives on. Surveys suggest as many as half of Icelanders believe in the hidden folk, or at least aren’t comfortable ruling out their existence.

To read the whole story, go to the Globe and Mail website HERE.