The Hulder of the Waterfall
Discover a hulder living behind a waterfall in a Norwegian-inspired tale for children about friendship, honesty and respect for nature.
- Region
- Norway (Western mountain regions)
- Category
- Legends & Folk Beliefs
- Ages
- 4–12, with three reading levels (ages 4–6, 7–9 and 10–12)
- Languages
- English, Norwegian, Swedish, Danish
About the legend
- Being
- Hulder (Huldra)
- Cultural meaning
- The hulder represents the boundary between the human world and the wild, untamed natural world. In Norwegian folk belief, she embodies the mystery of the forest — beautiful and alluring, but belonging to a realm that humans cannot fully enter or control. The tradition of treating the hidden folk with respect reflects a broader Scandinavian worldview that sees nature not as a resource to exploit, but as a living presence deserving reverence.
- Fun fact
- Norwegian farmers used to leave out bowls of cream and porridge at the edge of the forest as gifts for the hidden folk! They believed that if you were kind to the hulder, she would protect your animals and help your crops grow.
About this retelling
Original story inspired by folklore An original story inspired by Norwegian folklore about the hulder and the hidden folk.
The hulder and the hidden folk are traditional figures in Norwegian folklore. Astrid and this particular story of kindness were created for Nordic Tales.
Sources
- Norske Huldreeventyr og Folkesagn — Peter Christen Asbjørnsen
- Norske Folkeeventyr — Peter Christen Asbjørnsen & Jørgen Moe
- Norske Sagn — Reidar Th. Christiansen
Themes
- kindness
- respect
- curiosity
- empathy
- nature
- hulder
- huldra
- hidden folk
- de underjordiske
- Norwegian forest
- waterfall
- seter
- mountain farm
- folklore
- nature
- kindness
More stories
- Askeladden and the Troll — Read how Askeladden outwits a troll in this Norwegian folktale for children, with cultural background and three reading levels.
- Freya and the Lost Necklace — Discover Freya's quest for her lost necklace in a child-friendly retelling of Norse mythology about kindness and generosity.
- Holger the Dane — Explore the Danish legend of Holger the Dane, the sleeping hero beneath Kronborg Castle, retold for children with cultural context.
- The Magic of the Sampo — Meet Väinämöinen and Ilmarinen in a Finnish tale of the magical Sampo, retold for children with themes of community and shared work.
- Näcken and the Golden Violin — Meet Näcken, a lonely water spirit with a golden violin, in a Swedish-inspired tale for children about courage, music and understanding.
- Thor and the World Serpent — Join Thor at sea as he encounters Jörmungandr, the World Serpent, in a child-friendly Norse myth about strength and understanding.
- The Seven Sisters — Explore the Norwegian legend of the Seven Sisters mountains on the Helgeland coast, retold for children as a tale of courage and solidarity.
- The Draugen's Warning — Follow Eirik as he hears the draugen's warning in a Norwegian coastal tale for children about courage, old stories and a storm at sea.
- The Brave Tin Soldier — Read a child-friendly retelling of Hans Christian Andersen's steadfast tin soldier, with cultural background and three reading levels.
- Odin's Wild Hunt — Meet Odin's Wild Hunt in a Nordic winter tale for children. Follow Solveig through a stormy night, with cultural background and reading levels.