I’m fortunate enough to be published by a Danish publisher – and stories like this one make me realize how apt this is, and how lucky I am. For a Danish official research fund, the Danish Council for Independent Research (Det Frie Forskningsråd – DFF) has reportedly decided to fund a PhD project to the tune of 2.5 million kroner ($428,000), to research the potential intersection of folklore with actual trolls living underground on the island of Bornholm.
Bornholm is traditionally a home for trolls, and above all, the local legend Krølle Bølle – “small and cute. Krølle Bølle has got his name because he has curly hair and a curl in his tail (Krølle is Danish for curl) – and he is also a right “Bølle” (thug).” He and his family have become icons of the island, found on signage and in souvenir stores everywhere. Lars Christian Kofoed Rømer, part-time lecturer at the Department of Anthropology of the University of Copenhagen, points out that he is more interested in local folklore and the sense of place than the actual existence of the troll.
“If at night you meet small people the same size as an 8-10 year old child wearing woollen clothes and red hats, then you have come across the underground people!” warns the Bornholm website. “You will find them near burial mounds, where they live. You might catch them in the middle of baking, washing their clothes, dancing or partying…”
Rømer apparently spent two years prior studying ghosts in Denmark before moving on to trolls, according to periodical Politiken. Whether or not Denmark offers official grants for ghostbusting Elsinore, I certainly am now ready to apply for a fat local research grant via my Danish publisher to dig into local folklore for my next fantastic epic…
