Photo. A Norwegian troll enjoying the hot summer in Oslo`s main street Karl Johans gate. © Travel Explorations.
Travelling in the world`s nothern country could be real exciting for they who encounter trolls. Trolls are shaggy and rough-haired, with trees and moss-like growth on their heads and noses. Their noses were long and they would stir with it when cooking broth or porridge. These trolls standing out in the main street Karl Johansgate in Oslo, are very human-like in appearance, but other places in Norway they could be real scary. There are also some trolls in shopping centers around in the city.
The street Karl Johans gate is named after the king Karl III Johan Its stretch from the Oslo Central Station in south east to the Royal Palace in north west. Along the street there are famed institions as the Parlament (Storting), the National Theathre (Nasjonalteateret), Oslo Dome Church (Oslo Domkirke) and the University buildings. This street is well known for its pulsating party life, especially in the weekends when crazy Norwegian turn the capital upside down. In the summer time Norwegians get their best mood when they see the sun is shining, and this summer has been excellent.
The trolls in Norway have long noses, some of them crooked. They have only four fingers and toes on each limb, and most of them have a long bushy tail. Sometimes they had a tail hidden in their clothing to disguise as a human. Some trolls are giants, others are small. There are stories of two-headed as well as three-headed trolls, and even a few with only one eye in the middle of their wrinkled foreheads.
Others trolls have trees and rough mosslike growth all over their heads and noses. The trolls come out after sunset. The sun would cause them to crack, turn into stone and burst. As you can see on the photos, the trolls in Oslo enjoy standing out in the sun. Perhaps they are an exception from Norwegian trolls? Anyway all trolls is believed to have supernatural powers, and do usually bring good luck, especially to nice people.
Photos. Trolls in Oslo having a good time. © Travel Explorations.
The biggest of all trolls was Dovregubben. He was the king in the mountain Dovre who the world famous Norwegian author Henrik Ibsen wrote about in his novel Peer Gynt. In Norway a beautiful female troll is called huldra. They are the most danger trolls. In the mentioned novel Ibsen tells about a hulder attracting the main person Peer Gynt into a trap. The hulders now the way of seduction, but not always with their best intentions.
Photos. Karl Johans gate in Oslo. The photo at the right side display the pool with fontains called Spikkersuppa. © Travel Explorations.
| Photo. New opened Hard Rock Cafe on Karl Johans gate. Norwegian love partying, especially outdoors when the sun shines. © Travel Explorations. |  |
Some trolls even had two or three heads, some only had one eye in the middle of their foreheads. Their features differ from humans with four fingers and four toes and a tail ressembling that of a cow. The trolls lived to be hundreds of years old, but would die and turn into stone if the sun caught them.
| Photo. Two headed trolls observed at Kvamsfjellet, Vinstra, near Rondane. © Travel Explorations. |  |
An popular souvenir in Norway are figures of trolls. These could be bought in shops around in the country. Here you will find cute, mean and charming trolls in all shapes and sizes and made of different types of material. The troll souvenirs are popular both for adults and children. These souvenirs have a special function. Be aware of that the trolls intended to play with, but to be your Guardian Angel.
Trolls are believed to bring Good Luck to those who shall possess them. They are made in Norway and a little bit of magic troll dust is put in each one when they are hand made in the mountains of the old country.
There is a small trick to get them to work their Good Luck charms. Most importantly, to bring the Good Luck they need to work their charms in private! After you open your package the first thing you need to do is name your troll. Once you have named your troll, put him in a private place where no one can look at or disturb him. I will say there also good idea to place your troll in a place where it`s visible for others. I am sure your guests will find this strange creature very fascinating, and hopefully your troll will bring some Good Luck to your guests too.
The time needed is for the sun to rise and set twice. It doesn't have to be a place that is quiet or dark, but just private. They will then work their charms and bring Good Luck to the household or business that they reside in. You can also by books about trolls so you can learn to understand them better and their mission.
Harold Bloom is Sterling Professor of Humanities at Yale University, Berg Professor of English at New York University and a author of severel awarded book. He explores western literary traditions in his book The Western Canon. His comment to Henrik Ibsen`s book Peer Gynt is that in most humans there is a troll, and that Ibsen's play masterly shows this.
Remember - Trolls are known to reward the good and punish the bad!
Stein Morten Lund, 11 August 2006
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