The traditions surrounding silver in Norway
Norwegians possess a large amount of silver per capita. Silver finery was traditionally the best evidence of rural prosperity and represented the highest form of luxury. Before Norway developed a proper banking system, many people believed that silver was the safest investment.

There was a lot of superstition attached to silver. Silver was used to protect against goblins and trolls and a silver neck ring or silver shilling was sown into children’s clothing to protect them. It was also believed that silver healed illnesses and preserved good health. Silver was also used to ferment beer. Furthermore only a silver bullet could finish off those who proved resistant to a lead bullet. Church bells cast with silver were also considered more powerful.

Huldre silver (Huldresølv)
Huldre silver was created by wood nymphs (Huldrene) who adorned themselves with the most precious silver, particularly brides. Their silver was so beautiful that no goldsmith was able to recreate it or repair it if it had broken.

The wood nymphs had their own silver mines. Legends tell of people finding a silver mine, however when they tried to return to it they were unable to find it again. Sometimes the nymphs let the silver run in streams or small droplets from the mountain.

It was virtually impossible to take the nymph silver away with you and, if you did, a curse was put on you. However, if you had been given the silver in return for a favour you had done for them or come by it by some other honest means, it brought happiness and stayed with the family for generations.