Danish Myths and Legends

Danish Myths and Legends - a metanode

In this node, I will endeavour to collect all the myths and legends of Denmark that are elsewhere noded (most of them, I expect, by myself - though you are welcome to /msg me with a pointer to your cherished nodes).

• Part One: Myths predating history
  This section collates those events which take place before reliable historical records exist, i.e. before the 10th century or so.
  
  
• King Dan - mythical eponymous forefather of the Danish nation.
• King Skjold - founder of the Skjoldunge dynasty.
• Roar and Helge - brother kings, also known for their cameo appearance in Beowulf.
• Amleth's Revenge - the real Hamlet (Note: modern Danes would spell the name Amled). No whiny procrastinators need apply. Just revenge, plain and simple.

• Part Two: Myths of historical times
  This section collates those tales which deal with events that are historical. This is the realm of popular versions of actual historical events, heroic propaganda, folktales, old wives' tales, and the like.
  
  
• Holger Danske - Denmark's national hero, one of Charlemagne's paladins.
• Wild Hunt - Denmark has its own version of the Hunt, featuring the quasi-historical, quasi-mythical King Valdemar.

• Part Three: Myths of the fantastic
  This section is devoted to tales of fantastic creatures and the like - stuff that is neither classical myth nor historical events turned legend.
  
  
• nøkke - the musical spirit of the water, a sort of Nordic freshwater merman.
• nisse - the household spirit of Nordic homes (tomte in Swedish).

• Part Four: Related subjects
  Stuff that isn't mythical, but has a bearing on this subject.
  
  
• Monarchs of Denmark
• Prime ministers of Denmark
• Dannevirke - iron age fortification at Denmark's south border.
• The Swan's Nest - a nationalist allegory by Hans Christian Andersen.
• The last witchcraft trial in Denmark - the sad fate of Anne Palles.
• She took my bell - an anecdote from the struggle for women's suffrage in Denmark.
• It didn't work, Granberg! - another anecdote, the origin of a catchphrase as a piece of Copenhagener wit.
• Dinner For One - what Danes watch on TV on New Year's Eve.
• Vær velkommen, Herrens år - what Danes sing on New Year's Eve.
• Det er i dag et vejr - a Danish song of springtime and love.
• Danish name laws
• Drømte mig en drøm i nat - the oldest piece of Danish traditional music.