Also called Vittror, Vättar, Vitterfolk.
The tale
Vittra live beneath the ground, especially in Norrland, keeping cattle and farms like people. Their homes often lie under human houses and byres, and if a byre was built over their dwelling so that it dripped onto them, cattle would sicken until the building was moved. People warned them before pouring out water, and there are stories of vittra lending and borrowing from human neighbours.
When they are met
- when moving into a new house
- when pouring water outside
- Christmas
Staying on their good side
- a warning before pouring hot water on the ground
- food left out at Christmas
- politeness to the place
Honouring them, or keeping safe
- Old custom said to call out a warning before tipping hot water on the earth; it is a gentle habit of care.
- When moving house, greet the land and ask to live there peaceably.
What their tales teach
- respect for land and neighbours
- house-moving customs
Symbols
- a byre beneath the byre
- cattle heard lowing underground
- hot water poured carefully
Sources
- John Lindow, Swedish Legends and Folk Beliefs
- Kvideland and Sehmsdorf, Scandinavian Folk Belief and Legend
More Norse folklore
- Huldra The hidden woman of the forest
- Nisse The little old man of the farm
- Draugr The restless dead of the sagas
- Trolls The old dwellers in mountain and stone
- Valkyries The choosers of the slain
- Fossegrim The fiddler beneath the waterfall
- Nøkken The fiddler in the still water
- Mara The spirit who rides sleepers