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This article is missing information about Vættir in Norse myth. The article requires significant verifiable expansion. (November 2018)
Etymology
The Old Norse term véttr[ˈweːtːz̠], / vættr and its English cognate wight are descended from Proto-Germanic *wihtiz (thing, creature), from Proto-Indo-European *wekti- ("object, thing").[3]Vættr and wight normally refer to a supernatural being, especially landvættr (land spirit), but can refer to any creature. The Norwegianvette is used much in the same way as the Old Norse vættr as are the corresponding Swedish cognate vätte (dialect form vätter – Old Swedish vætter)[4] and the Danishvætte. A related form in the Slavic languages can be seen in Old Church Slavonic вєшть, (veštĭ), meaning thing, matter, or subject.[citation needed]
Folklore
Húsvættir is a collective term for keepers of the household, like the Scottish brownie, or the Nordic tomte (also referred to as Nisse). The tomte or nisse is a solitary vätte, living on the farmstead. He is usually benevolent and helpful, which can not be said about an innately mischievous illvätte. However, a nisse can cause a lot of damage if he is displeased or angry, including killing of livestock or causing serious accidents.[5][bettersourceneeded]
Scandinavian folklore features a class of beings similar to the Old Norse landvættir. They are known by many names, although the most common are vättar in southern Sweden (singular: vätte), vittra in northern Sweden, and huldrefolk in Norway (although the singular vittra and huldra, respectively, refer to a solitary and quite different being).[citation needed]
During the 19th century, Peter Christen Asbjørnsen and Jørgen Moe compiled Norwegian folk tales. These stories often reflected the animistic folk belief that preserved earlier elements derived from the Viking Age but was strongly influenced by medieval Biblical cosmology. Prominent are stories that reflect later views of the vættir, usually called the huldrefolk (from Old Norse huldufólk), meaning "concealed people" and referring to their other worldliness or power of invisibility.[6][bettersourceneeded][7] The stories featuring the huldrefolk often highlight their enigmatic nature and their interactions with humans. They may appear as seductive maidens or mysterious forest dwellers, leading unsuspecting travelers astray or blessing those who treat them kindly. These tales reflect a blend of reverence, fear, and fascination with the supernatural that permeated Norwegian folklore.
The English surname Wightman retains the meaning of the word "wight" and could be translated as "elf-friend".[8][bettersourceneeded]
See also
Rå, spirits that protect natural features in later Scandinavian folklore
This article uses material from the Wikipedia article Vættir, and is written by contributors.
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