huldufólkabústaður

Huldufólkabústaður is a term from Icelandic folklore referring to the dwelling places of the huldufólk, or hidden people. These beings are believed to inhabit the natural landscape, and their homes are therefore often integrated into rocks, hills, or other geological formations. These dwellings are not typically visible to humans, existing in a parallel world that humans cannot usually perceive.

Common descriptions suggest that huldufólkabústaður can be found in caves, beneath large stones, or within mounds of earth. The entrance to such a dwelling might appear as an ordinary rock or crevice to an unaware observer. It is said that these hidden homes are often quite elaborate, mirroring human structures in their design and furnishings, albeit built from natural materials.

Respect for these supposed abodes is a significant aspect of Icelandic folklore. Building or altering landscapes in ways that might disturb a huldufólkabústaður is considered taboo, with the belief that doing so could incur the wrath or misfortune from the hidden people. The concept highlights a deep-seated reverence for nature and the unseen forces that are thought to coexist with the human world.