Icelandic Folklore in Snaefellsnes Peninsula
When I say Iceland is magical, it’s not just because of the landscapes. It’s a place where it seems quite possible to be surrounded by magical creatures like fairies, elves, unicorns and whatnot. Everything is so open, majestic… Wind whispers stories of history and folklore.
One of the moments when I had this “out of this world” experience was while we were driving around Snaefellsnes peninsula last May after photographing our first wedding in Iceland. While Jouni took his camera and went to the cliffs to photograph Lóndrangar, I stayed back to listen to the silence and read some information boards that were set up next to parking space. It was so, so quiet. The only sounds I could hear were the thousands of birds nesting nearby and the occasional breeze of wind. It almost felt like we were the only people in a foreign planet. I was surrounded by snowy mountain tops and everything was so peaceful.
This is the story I was reading:
A known folktale takes place on the Púfubjarg cliff in the 17th century. The poet Kolbeinn challenged The Devil himself for a Poetical Duel. One night when the moon was shining and the sea was rough they sat down on the edge and dueled for the whole night. The game was that the competitor that could not finish a poem started by the other would fall from the cliff into the ocean. We would also from that moment on be in the power of the other. Both did well and they dueled for the whole night, until Kolbeinn gave The Devil a beginning of a verse he couldn’t finish and in his frustration The Devil said: “This is no poetry, Kolbeinn.” Kolbeinn then finished the verse himself and The Devil immediately fell from the edge of the cliff into the ocean.
Not only did my destination wedding photographer dreams come true this day, but I also got to see my little black church near Hotel Buðir ♥ If you know anyone who’s getting married there and they’re looking for a photographer, we’d LOVE to photograph a wedding there!
Our route can be viewed here.
We rented our car from Route 1 Car Rental and highly recommend their services!
