Fifty shades of green: Gjáin, where the fairies live.
According to Wikipedia, about 50% of the inhabitants of Iceland believe in the existence of elves and trolls. For us sober Dutch this is an incredible fact, but I must say: after having been in Iceland twice, I understand where this faith comes from. Many believe that the lumps of lava found throughout the country are petrified trolls. A troll is a night creature, which petrified in the daylight. The many lava chunks often distinguish forms that resemble human. Add to that how hard life can be on Iceland, and you start believing in trolls.
Trolls are not nice creatures: they bully and steal. In Iceland they do not know Santa Claus, but they know the tradition of Gryla, the troll who had 13 children, who all come around Christmas. And where the children used to be frightened by being taken to Spain: in Iceland they told the children that Gryla was coming to get them, she would cook in one of the geysers or hotspots, and eat up. To reinforce their words, the parents pointed children to the steam coming from the ground: you see, that's where Gryla is busy...
Fortunately, there are also sweet creatures: the elves. Elves are shy, so you never see them. But when we stayed near Hella in Loa's Nest there was a small cottage in the garden. I asked what that was for, and I got the answer: that's for the fairies... (and that was a joke).
Then I met Unnur and Ingi, owners of the guesthouse about elves and trolls. They told me the story of Gryla. I enjoyed the stories, and left home a few days later with a booklet about Gryla and her children: -).
