Norwegian Folk Tales

Introduction

Norwegian folk tales are among the richest and most beloved storytelling traditions in Europe. Passed down orally for centuries before being collected and written down during the 19th century, these stories have become an important part of Norway’s cultural heritage. Filled with brave heroes, clever tricksters, mysterious creatures, magical kingdoms, and timeless life lessons, they continue to inspire readers of all ages around the world.

Many of the best-known tales were collected by Peter Christen Asbjørnsen and Jørgen Moe, whose work preserved hundreds of stories that might otherwise have been lost. Their collections introduced unforgettable characters such as Ash Lad (Askeladden), cunning trolls, princesses trapped in enchanted castles, talking animals, and magical beings that have become symbols of Norwegian folklore.

These stories reflect Norway’s dramatic landscapes, rural traditions, and deep connection to nature. Mountains, forests, fjords, waterfalls, and remote valleys often serve as the backdrop for adventures where courage, kindness, intelligence, and perseverance are rewarded over strength and wealth.

This collection brings together many of Norway’s most famous folk tales, grouped by theme to make them easy to explore. Whether you are discovering Norwegian folklore for the first time or revisiting childhood favorites, these timeless stories offer a fascinating glimpse into the myths, legends, and imagination that have shaped Norwegian culture for generations.

List of All Norwegian Folk Tales

There is no single official list of all Norwegian folk tales. The largest collections, particularly those gathered by Peter Christen Asbjørnsen and Jørgen Moe, contain more than one hundred stories. In addition, many regional variations have been preserved throughout Norway.

Below is a comprehensive list of the most famous Norwegian folk tales.

Askeladden Tales

• Ash Lad Who Ate in a Contest with the Troll
  (Askeladden som kappåt med trollet)
• Ash Lad Who Made the Princess Say He Lied
  (Askeladden som fikk kongsdatteren til å løgste seg)
• Ash Lad and the Good Helpers
  (Askeladden og de gode hjelperne)
• Ash Lad and the Silver Ducks
  (Askeladden og sølvendene)
• Ash Lad Who Stole the Silver Ducks, the Bedspread, and the Golden Harp from the Troll
  (Askeladden som stjal sølvendene, sengeteppet og gullharpa til trollet)
• Ash Lad Who Made the Princess Admit He Lied
  (Askeladden som fikk prinsessen til å si at han løy)
• Ash Lad and the Journey East of the Sun and West of the Moon
  (Askeladden som skulle til Østenfor sol og Vestenfor måne)
• Ash Lad Who Wooed the Princess
  (Askeladden som fridde til prinsessa)
• Ash Lad and the Trolls of Hedal Forest
  (Askeladden og trollene på Hedalsskogen)
• Ash Lad Who Silenced the Princess
  (Askeladden som målbandt prinsessa)
• Ash Lad and the Blacksmith
  (Askeladden og smeden)
• Ash Lad and the Seventh Father of the House
  (Askeladden og den syvende far i huset)
• Ash Lad and the Three Golden Feathers
  (Askeladden som fant de tre gullfjærene)

Troll Tales

• The Three Billy Goats Gruff
  (De tre bukkene Bruse)
• Soria Moria Castle
  (Soria Moria slott)
• The Hall of the Mountain King
  (Dovregubbens hall)
• The Troll with No Heart in His Body
  (Trollet uten hjerte på seg)
• The Mill That Grinds at the Bottom of the Sea
  (Kvernen som står og maler på havets bunn)
• The Troll Woman
  (Trollkjerringa)
• Per, Pål and Ash Lad
  (Per, Pål og Espen Askeladd)
• The Hare That Had Been Married
  (Haren som hadde vært gift)
• The Man Who Was to Keep House
  (Mannen som skulle stelle hjemme)
• The Wife Against the Current
  (Kjerringa mot strømmen)
• The Boy Who Went to the North Wind to Demand His Flour Back
  (Gutten som gikk til Nordavinden og krevde igjen melet)
• The Boy and the Devil
  (Gutten og fanden)
• The Boy Who Wanted to Marry the Daughter of the Woman in the Corner
  (Gutten som ville fri til datteren til mor i kroken)
• The Maiden on the Glass Mountain
  (Jomfruen på glassberget)
• The Twelve Wild Ducks
  (De tolv villendene)
• Bird Dam
  (Fugl Dam)
• The Golden Bird
  (Gullfuglen)
• The Phoenix Bird
  (Fugl Føniks)

Kings, Princesses and Magical Castles

• East of the Sun and West of the Moon
  (Østenfor sol og vestenfor måne)
• White-Bear-King Valemon
  (Den hvite bjørn kong Valemon)
• The Princess Nobody Could Silence
  (Prinsessen ingen kunne målbinde)
• The Princess Whom Nobody Could Silence
  (Prinsessen som ingen kunne målbinde)
• The Princess on the Glass Mountain
  (Prinsessen på glassberget)
• The Golden Castle That Hung in the Air
  (Gullslottet som hang i luften)
• The Three Princesses in the Blue Mountain
  (De tre prinsessene i berget det blå)
• The King’s Daughter in the Blue Mountain
  (Kongsdatteren i berget det blå)
• The Seventh Father of the House
  (Den syvende far i huset)
• The Girl Who Was to Tend the King’s Hares
  (Jenta som skulle stelle kongens harer)

Animal Tales

• The Fox Tricks the Bear Out of the Christmas Feast
  (Reven snyter bjørnen for julekosten)
• The Bear and the Fox
  (Bjørnen og reven)
• The Fox as Shepherd
  (Reven som gjeter)
• The Hare and the Fox
  (Haren og reven)
• The Rooster and the Hen
  (Hanen og høna)
• The Hen Who Climbed the Mountain
  (Høna tripper i berget)
• The Mouse and the Cat
  (Musa og katten)
• The Goat That Could Count to Ten
  (Geita som kunne telle til ti)
• The Fox Herding the Pigs
  (Reven som gjeter grisene)
• The Fox as Suitor
  (Reven som frier)
• The Bird Grip
  (Fuglen Grip)

Humorous Tales

• The Man Who Was to Keep House
  (Mannen som skulle stelle hjemme)
• The Wife Against the Current
  (Kjerringa mot strømmen)
• The Priest and the Sexton
  (Presten og klokkeren)
• The Blacksmith They Dared Not Let into Hell
  (Smeden som de ikke torde slippe inn i helvete)
• The Devil and the Bailiff
  (Fanden og futen)
• The Honest Fourpence
  (Den rettferdige firskilling)
• Good Day, Man – Axe Handle
  (God dag mann – økseskaft)
• The Parish Clerk of the Village
  (Klokkeren i bygda)
• The Cat That Loved to Eat
  (Kjetta som var så fæl til å ete)

Magical Tales

• The Three Aunts
  (De tre mostrene)
• The Three Citrons
  (De tre sitronene)
• The Three Wishes
  (De tre ønskene)
• The Blue Ribbon
  (Det blå båndet)
• The Red Hen
  (Den røde høna)
• Gertrud’s Bird
  (Gjertrudsfuglen)
• The Girl with the Golden Hair
  (Jenta med gullhåret)
• The Three Sisters in the Mountain
  (De tre søstrene i berget)
• The Green Knight
  (Den grønne ridderen)

Heroes and Adventures

• Per Gynt
  (Per Gynt)
• Little Freddy and the Fiddle
  (Veslefrikk med fela)
• Little Freddy and the Trolls
  (Veslefrikk og trollene)
• Butterball
  (Smørbukk)
• Tom Thumb
  (Tommeliten)
• Rag Hood
  (Lurvehette)
• Kari Woodencoat
  (Kari Trestakk)
• Kari and Ola
  (Kari og Ola)
• Little Shorty
  (Lillekort)
• Espen Ash Lad
  (Espen Askeladd)

Norwegian Folk Legends

• The Nixie
  (Nøkken)
• The Huldra
  (Huldra)
• The Draugr (Ghost of the Sea)
  (Draugen)
• The Fossegrim
  (Fossegrimen)
• The Hidden Folk
  (De underjordiske)
• The Mountain King
  (Bergkongen)
• The Seven Sisters
  (De syv søstre)
• The Giants
  (Jutulene)
• The Mare (Night Spirit)
  (Mare)
• The Lindworm
  (Lindormen)