Swan Maiden

human · Sweden · Nordic

The swan maiden (svanejomfru) is a widespread European motif (ATU 400), attested in Danish (Svend Grundtvig), Swedish, and Icelandic collections. A man steals a swan woman's feather cloak, forcing marriage until she recovers it. In Nordic versions, she is often a huldra or elf-woman. The motif is documented but not a specifically 'Swedish' named being.

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