When I was at the open-air museum Skansen, I heard a story about trolls. This got me thinking about other mythological creatures and monsters that inhabit Sweden. And a new series was born!
Today – Bysen.
If you are visiting the Baltic island of Gotland this summer, look out for Bysen!
Bysen is a little Gnome-like creature that patrols and haunts the woods of the island. He carries an axe, and lures people by making them get lost and enchants their vision.
He is a mischievous character, rather like the ‘tomtar’ that inhabit barns and farms in mainland Sweden. He has been known to play tricks on foresters, delay transports, and tips loads of timber over.
He looks fairly insignificant – a small, grey man wearing a cap. It is said Bysen has done some crime within his lifetime and is therefore sentenced to wander the Earth forever. Bysen is also the ward of the forest and nature. Some people believe that there are several ‘bysens’ deep in the forest.
So be careful if you are on Gotland. If Bysen bewitches you, you might get lost in the woods forever.
Watching the Swedes 