I was going to write a blog about all about the invisible witch of Mount Fløyen, but she is a mystery I have yet to crack. So you'll only get a taste today:
Up on the trails on top of Mount Fløyen, you may see many signs in both English and Norsk, that warn the walkers about the invisible witch. Naturally, I found these delightful and I wanted to learn more. Sadly an internet search turns up nothing but people posing with a wooden statue that may be the likeness of the witch herself, and pictures much like those that I took (below), of the signs themselves. No story to be found. I want so much for there to be a charming tale that accompanies these whimsical warnings. My friend Diana has vowed to ask some Norwegians and says she'll report back, so stayed tuned, but in the meantime:
Perhaps even better than the mysterious invisible one...
I was just in the "Trening" center (gym) and I saw an older gentleman with a Seattle Seahawks t-shirt on. Turns out he met a '12th man' sporting a Hawks sweatshirt on ferry heading to Vancouver, BC and inquired about it. The 12th man gifted my new friend the shirt that brought us together. In exchange, my new friend sent him the orange jersey of the Åsane Seahawks. The Åsane Seahawks are an American football team from a borough of Bergen called Åsane. Of course. Why wouldn't Bergen have an Amerikansk Fotball Norge?
Bergen and Seattle, they're like two damp peas in a pod.
Now that I'm doing my research online, I see that the Åsane Seahawks borrowed their name and logo from Seattle. And according to Wikipedia, "the Seahawks cheerleaders are one of the most-winning cheerleading squads in Norway the last years." Delightfully stated. Congratulations, Åsane Seahawks Cheerleaders!
Also, while Wilson visited we stumbled across this totem pole, gifted to Bergen from their sister city, Seattle. The connections abound!
It sounds to me like you need to make a page and write the story so every time someone searches they will come upon your story and viola (as the French don't say) your story of the witch of mount floyen are one of the most-winning witch stories in Norway the last years.
ReplyDeleteRichard, I love this idea. I think I need to crowd source the story, though. Any thoughts?
DeleteThanks, Kirsten! You're so sweet. I miss you! Let me put it this way, I should be reading right now, not blogging.
ReplyDeleteHello, I`m happy to see You like my witch signs on Fløyen in Bergen/ Norway. The story behind making these signs are. I work on a day care centre and once a week my job is to walk on a four our trip with an autistic person.We goes to Fløyen the hole year, in rain and snow. Sometimes it`s pretty boring and I came up with the idea to make funny signs to please walkers. I`ve had many signs pictured in local newspapers and on internet. I`ve made about 25 different signs but some got stolen.
ReplyDeleteArve,
DeleteThank you so much for commenting! I am so excited to hear from you! It is awesome to hear the source of the signs. They have very much pleased this walker, at least, and I'm sure the same is true of many more. Sorry to hear that some signs were stolen, maybe the thieves were fans of your work and just had to have one?
How did you come up with the idea of the invisible witch?
Thanks again, it is great to hear from you :)
Stand
I only saw "Don't insult the witch" when I visited but loved it. It makes me feel like visiting again to see more witch signs
DeleteI was just in the "Trening" center (gym) and I saw an older gentleman with a Seattle Seahawks t-shirt on. Turns out he met a '12th man' sporting ... ssweatshirt.blogspot.com
ReplyDelete