Folklore

Folklores and the Icelandic Sagas have always had a great impact on Icelandic culture.  A large part of one of Iceland’s most famous Sagas, Grettissaga “the story of Grettir”, took place close to Stadarskali.  Grettir was born and brought up in Bjarg in Midfjordur.  Various folklores also have their roots in West-Hunathing, e.g. the old Frumps of Hrutafjardarhals and the Horse-stone in Stadur in Hrutafjordur.

Frumps over Hrutafjardarhals:

It was often quite difficult to go over Hrutafjardarhals hills because of swamps and mud.  It was not uncommon for both men and horses to get stuck in the moor if they weren’t careful enough.  Thus, the hills were a known impediment.  Once upon a time, two frumps met in Reykjavik.  Ther tale does not say much of their interactions except that they got into a quarrel.  One of the frumps was born and brought up in Southern-Iceland, while the other had spent all of her life in Northern-Iceland.  After some loud quarrel, the frump from the South said to the other: “Go to hell!”  The frump from the north did not care to be inferior in their quarrel.  She had a difficlut time to think of a worse place, but at last she said: “Go over Hrutafjardarhals!”

Horse-rock

The horse-rock is located a little south of the old farmhouse at Stadur.  Horses were tied to the rock, and you can still see signs of that.  Children and women also used the rock to get on back of the horses.  Lastly, the rock was used for processing dry fish by pounding on it.

One of the folklores tells that a corral was located in th southern corner of the field.  Right in the middle of the corral was a large rock. The story tells that during the first mass at the church in Stadur, the trolls who stayed in Trollakirkju (Trolls-church) got sot angry, that they threw this large rock in order to ruin the church who was then located in what is now a cemetery - south of the old farm house at Stadur.  The trolls missed their target, but the rock ended up in the corral and killed four horses.  Many people believe that the rock thrown by the trolls broke in half as time went by, and the horse-rock you can see is a part of the rock thrown by the trolls.

Grettistak

One of the longest Icelandic Saga’s tells the story of Grettir.  Grettir was born on the farm Bjarg in Midfjordur.  On the moor above Thoroddsstadur is a large rock which has been named Grettishaf (the sea of Grettir).  The story tells that Grettir, while waiting for his enemies, was passing away the time by lifting the rock to a cliff.  The rock weights about 10 tons, and should give some idea of Grettir’s strength.  When Grettir’s enemies arrived, a fight started.  Thorbjorn, from Thoroddstadir arrived at the battle site and wanted to make peace between the parties.  Grettir did not want peace; however, Thoroddur stated that he wold lend his men to the party whom was ready to put its weapons down and stop the battle.  Grettir realized that he would not be able to win the battle if his enemies reinforcements from Thorbjörn.  The battle stopped, but extreme hatred remained between Grettir and Thorbjorn from there on.  Later, Grettir rode to Thoroddstadur, and killed both Thorbjorn and his son while they were hay-making.  The murders let to Grettir’s expatriation which lasted for decades, but finally ended when he was killed in Drangey in Skagafjordur.