Sunday, November 05, 2006

A tale of a troll


My very dear sister Wicki, who lives in Denmark (in Odense home to the great fairytale storyteller Hans Christian Andersen) , has sent Daniel a very special present, a mobile of a 'puffing troll'.

Legend has it that many, many years ago when trolls were still to be found in Denmark, it was common knowledge that if you fell and hurt yourself, you simply puffed at a troll and the pain stopped immediately.

'Puffing at trolls when feeling sad, lessens pain and makes you glad.'

Today's mobiles - inspired by a stone carving of the original - retain this special ability.
Apparently it is very important that the troll is given a name by the family with whom the troll comes to live. Leroy - one of the names we joked about giving Daniel before he was born - is one possible option .

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