Scott # 617 Faroe Is. MNH, Lady of Husavik Legend
Folklore
The Lady of Húsavík
According to the legend, there was a poor girl who lived
with a farmer on Skúvoy. By day she kept watch on the cattle in the fields. One day she fell asleep and dreamt that she heard someone telling her that she was sleeping on gold. This happened three times and then an old woman interpreted the dream. When the place was dug up she found Sigmundur Brestisson’s golden horn. The horn was sent to the king who rewarded her with money and land in Húsavík.
According to another tale, the log house that the woman
had built on her large farm at Húsavík, came floating from Norway ready to put up. The stone fence, which she had built around the churchyard, is still standing today. The walls of the house and barns, the boat house foundations and the paved courtyard can still be seen.
Rumour says that the lady was hard hearted. Once she buried two maidservants alive. Brynhildarheyggjur is named after one of the maids. When the labourers came back after working in the fields or fishing they were rewarded or punished depending on whether or not they were tired.
