Vittra (folklore)

A Vitter (plural: Vittra) is a type of Vættr (wight) from northern Sweden. A Vættr is a nature spirit, a type of mythological creature very common in Scandinavian mythology. Elves, Dwarves and Jötnar are Vættir. Experts are not certain if Vittra, Huldra and Näcken can be grouped together or not because all three of them support nature against humans and dangers.

Origins

The Vittra are part of Scandinavian folklore in Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Iceland, the Faroe Islands, and the Swedish speaking parts of Finland. In tales told in the north of Sweden, Vittra often take the place that trolls, tomte and vättar hold in the same stories told in other parts of the country.

Dwellings

The Vittra live underground, are invisible most of the time and have their own cattle (which are also invisible). Most of the time Vittror are rather distant and do not meddle in human affairs, but are fearsome when enraged. This can be achieved by not respecting them properly, for example by neglecting to perform certain rituals (such as saying "look out" when putting out hot water or urinating, so they can move out of the way) or building your home to close to or, even worse, on top of their home, disturbing their cattle or blocking their roads. They can make your life very miserable or even dangerous - they do whatever it takes to drive you away, even arrange accidents that will harm or even kill you. Even in modern days, people have rebuilt or moved houses in order not to block a "vittra-way", or moved from houses that are deemed a "Vittra-place" (Vittraställe) because of bad luck - although this is rather uncommon. It is said the Vittra dwell in Norrland, in the high woods or in the fields. However it is unclear if they rule over the field as the skogsrå rules over the grand woods.

Folklore

Folklore can be described as traditional art, literature, knowledge, and practices that are passed on in large part through oral communication and example. The information thus transmitted expresses the shared ideas and values of a particular group. British antiquarian William Thoms is generally credited with coining the term "folklore" in 1846. As an academic discipline folklore shares methods, and insights with literature, anthropology, art, music, history, linguistics, philosophy, and mythology. Elliott Oring states that folklore is that part of culture that "lives happily ever after".Folkloristics is the academic study of folklore.

Definition

Ever since the term "folklore" was coined by William Thoms in 1846, there have been debates as to the meaning of the term among folklorists, with no widespread agreement.

The most common definition of folklore was that it represented 'oral tradition', or traditions that have been transmitted in an oral manner. This definition had several issues, however; in non-literate societies, for example, all culture is orally transmitted, making the concept of folklore in such a context all-encompassing. Moreover, even in literate societies there are many activities, such as brushing one's teeth or driving a vehicle, which are orally transmitted and yet not usually thought of as folklore. Accordingly, oral transmission alone is not seen as something that is enough to make something folkloric. Also problematizing the link between folklore and oral tradition is the fact that some practices that are widely deemed folkloric – such as epitaphs or chain letters – involve transmission through text. Similarly, some other folkloric practices, such as traditional dances, games, gestures, and symbols, are often transmitted visually rather than orally.

Folklore (Jorge Cafrune album)

Folklore is the second album by the Argentine singer Jorge Cafrune, released in Argentina in 1962.

Track listing

Folklore (16 Horsepower album)

Folklore is the 4th studio album by 16 Horsepower, released in 2002.

As hinted to by its name, most of the material on the album is drawn from traditional folk music. Only four of the songs ("Hutterite Mile," "Blessed Persistence," "Beyond the Pale" and "Flutter") on the album are original 16 Horsepower compositions.

Track listing

All songs written and composed by 16 Horsepower and David Eugene Edwards except where noted. 

External links

Vittra Utbildning

Vittra Utbildning AB (Vittra Education) is a Swedish education company which operates schools. The company runs 27 schools in Sweden and other schools in Norway, Denmark, Latvia, and Estonia. In Stockholm, the company owns the largest independent school in Sweden. The children have individual curricula designed for their needs and skills.

The company was established after the Swedish educational reforms in 1992. It is owned by Bure Equity. The founder and first CEO was Stig Johansson. The current CEO is Fredrik Mattsson.

Vittra bought the Swedish company Proteam, which operated three high schools, in May 2007. By 2009, nearly 9000 students were being educated in Vittra's schools.

References

External links

Naglfar (band)

Naglfar is a Swedish melodic black metal band formed in 1992. The group was formed by Jens Rydén and Kristoffer Olivius, originally under the name Uninterred.

Biography

Naglfar formed in 1992. The band was originally called Uninterred, and was founded by Jens Rydén on vocals and guitar, and Kristoffer Olivius on bass. The band had its first full line-up when Ulf Andersson from Nocturnal Rites joined the band to play drums, and Morgan Hansson and Fredrik Degerström joined on guitar. With this new line-up Rydén could concentrate on vocals. In March 1994, Degerström left Naglfar, due to personal issues with the band as well as musical differences. Soon afterward Andersson left the band to concentrate on Nocturnal Rites. It was during this period that the band wrote and recorded their first demo in Garageland Studio, titled Stellae Trajectio. The demo was released in November 1994. Before it was publicly released, however, the band officially changed their name to Naglfar, the name deriving from a ship in Norse mythology made from the nails of the dead.