The International Guide to the Mythological

Origin: English and Scandinavian Habitat: Churchyards Behavior: Moderate Description:  A ghost of a big black dog. Facts:  Church grims oversee the welfare of a particular  church  and protects the  churchyard  from those who would profane and commit  sacrilege  against it.  It dwells in the churchtower or some other place of concealment, or wanders the grounds at night.  In English and Scandinavian folklore, when a new churchyard is opened it is believed that the first person buried there had to guard it against the devil. In order to prevent a human soul from having to perform such a duty, a dog is buried on the north part of the churchyard as a substitute.  In Yorkshire tradition, it is an ominous parent and is known to toll the church bell at midnight before a death.  They are associated with dark stormy weather . It often appears as a  black dog  but is known to take the fo...

Origin: Scandinavian Mythology Habitat: Water (Waterfalls) Behavior: Harmless Description:  He is a young and handsome looking man that sits at the base of the waterfall playing a fiddle.  Facts:  The Fossegrimen is neither good nor evil . The Fossegrimen is described as an exceptionally talented fiddler : the sounds of forest, wind and water play over his fiddle strings. The Fossegrimen is said to be willing to teach his skills in exchange for a food offering made on a Thursday evening. They enjoy 'fenalâr (smoked mutton) If the meal isn't sufficient, he'll only teach the supplicant how to tune the fiddle. If the offering is satisfactory, he will take the pupil's right hand and draw the fingers along the strings until they all bleed, after which he will be able to play so well that "the trees shall dance and torrents in their fall stand still".