East of the Sun
and West of the Moon

A Norse Folk Tale

I really enjoyed this story when I discovered it, despite the fact that the end is a little bit of propaganda for christianity... In fact the whole story is a strange jumble of Pagan symbolism and christian propaganda. I believe it would originally have been a Pagan tale which has been changed somewhat. This version is taken from a book dated 1927, A Book of Stories from the Norse, published by Blackie and Son Ltd.

Once upon a time there was a poor farmer who had so many children that he hadn't much either of food or clothing to give them. pretty children they all were, but the prettiest was the youngest daughter, who was the loveliest girl in all the land.
.....One Thursday evening, late in the autumn, the weather was very wild and rough outside, and it was very dark. Rain fell and wind blew, till the walls of the cottage shook. They all sat round the fire, busy with this thing and that. All at once something gave three taps on the window pane. The father went out to see what was the matter. When he got out of doors, what should he see but a great big White Bear.
....."Good Evening to you!" said the White Bear.
....."The same to you!" said the man.
....."Will you give me your youngest daughter. If you will, I'll make you as rich as you are now poor," said the Bear.
.....Well, the man would not be at all sorry to be so rich. Still, he thought he must have a talk with his daughter first. He therefore went in and told them that there was a great White Bear waiting outside, who had given his word to make them very rich if he could only have the youngest daughter.
.....The girl said "No!" at once. Nothing could make her say anything else. The man went outside and told the White Bear to come again the next Thursday evening and get an answer. Meantime he talked to his daughter every day, and kept on telling her of all the riches they would get, and how well off she would be herself. At last she said she would go, and, washing and mending her rags, she made herself as smart as she could, and was ready to start. I can't say her packing gave her much trouble.
.....Next Thursday evening the White Bear came to take her, and she got upon his back with her bundle, and off they went. When they had gone a bit of the way, the White Bear said:
....."Are you afraid?"
....."No, I'm not," she answered.
....."Well, mind and hold tight by my shaggy coat, and then there's nothing to fear," said the Bear.
.....She rode a long, long way, till they came to a great steep hill. There, on the face of it, the White Bear gave a knock, and a door opened, and they came into a castle where there were many rooms all lit up. The rooms were gleaming with silver and gold. There, too, was a table ready laid, and it was all very grand. Then the White Bear gave her a silver bell. When she wanted anything, she was only to ring it, and she would get it at once.
.....After she had eaten and drunk, she grew sleepy after her journey, and thought she would like to go to bed, so she rang the bell. She had scarcely taken hold of it before she came into a room where there was a bed made, as fair and white as anyone would wish to sleep in, with silken pillows and curtains and gold fringe. All that was in the room was made of gold or silver.
.....When she had put out the light, a man came and laid himself to sleep in the room. That was the White Bear, who threw off his beast shape at night. But she never saw him, for he always came after she had put out the light, and before the day dawned he was off again.
.....Things went on happily for a while, but at last she began to be silent and sad. She went about all day alone, and she longed to go home to see her father and mother, and brothers and sisters. One day, when the White Bear asked what it was that she wanted, she said it was so dull and lonely there, and that she longed to go home to see her father and mother, and brothers and sisters. That was why she was so sad.
....."Well,well," said the Bear, "you will get what you wish. But you must promise me one thing, not to talk alone with your mother, but only when the rest are by to hear. Your mother will take you by the hand and try to lead you into a room alone to talk, but you must remember and not do that, else you'll bring bad luck on both of us."

One Sunday the White Bear came and said that now they could set off to see her father and mother. Off they started, she sitting on his back; and they went far and long. At last they came to a grand house, and there her brothers and sisters were running about out of doors at play, and everything was so pretty, 'twas a joy to see.
....."This is where your father and mother live now," said the White Bear; "but don't forget what I told you, else you'll make us both unlucky."
.....No, of course, she would not forget. When she had reached the house, the White Bear turned right-about and left her.
.....Then, when she went in to see her father and mother, there was great joy. None of them thought they could thank her enough for all she had done for them. Now they had everything they wished, as good as good could be, and they all wanted to know how she got on where she lived.
.....She said it was very good to live where she did; she had all she wished. What she said beside I don't know. Of course she did not tell any of them about the Bear. But, in the afternoon, after they had had dinner, all happened as the White Bear had said. Her mother wanted to talk to her alone in her bedroom. She remembered what the White Bear had said, and would not go upstairs.
....."Oh, what we have to talk about will keep!" she said, and put her mother off. But, somehow or other, her mother got round her at last, and she had to tell her the whole story. She said that every night a man came and lay down as soon as she had put out the light, and that she never saw him, because he was always up and away before the morning dawned. She told her that she went about sad and sorrowing, for she thought she should so like to see him, and that all day long she walked about there alone; and that it was dull, and dreary, and lonesome.
....."My!" said her mother; "it may well be a fairy! But now I'll tell you how to see him. I'll give you a bit of candle, which you can carry home in your bosom. Just light that while he is asleep, but take care not to drop the tallow on him."
.....She took the candle and hid it in her bosom, and as night drew on, the White bear came and brought her away.
.....When they had gone a bit of the way, the White Bear asked if all had not happened as he had said?
....."Well, yes, it has," she replied.
....."Now, remember," said he, "if you have listened to your mother's advice you have brought bad luck on us both, and then all that has passed between us will be as nothing,"
....."No," she said, "I have not listened to my mother's advice."
.....When she reached home it was the old story over again. There came a man and lay down. At dead of night, when she heard he slept, she got up and struck a light, lit the candle, and let the light shine on him. Then she saw he was the loveliest prince one ever set eyes on. As she gazed at him she forgot to hold the candle steady, and she let three hot drops of tallow fall on his shirt.
....."What have you done?" he cried; "now you have made us both unlucky, for had you waited only this one year I had been freed. I have a stepmother who has bewitched me, so that I am a white bear by day and a man by night. But you have not kept your word, and I must set off from you to her. She lives in a castle which stands East of the Sun and West of the Moon, and there, too, is a princess with a nose three feet long, and she's the wife I must now have."
.....She wept and pleaded, but there was no help for it; he must go.
.....Then she asked if she might not go with him?
.....No, she might not.
....."Tell me the way, then," she said, "and I'll seek for you; that surely I may get leave to do."
....."Yes, you may do that," he said; "but there is no way to that place. It lies East of the Sun and West of the Moon, and thither you will never find your way."

Next morning, when she woke up, both Prince and castle were gone. She found herself lying on a little green patch, in the midst of the gloomy, thick wood. By her side lay the same bundle of rags she had brought with her from her old home.
.....When she had rubbed her eyes, and wept till she was tired, she set out on her way, and walked many, many days, till she came to a lofty crag. Under it sat an old crone, who played with a golden apple, which she tossed about. The girl asked her if she knew the way to the Prince who lived with his stepmother in the castle that lat East of the Sun and West of the Moon, and who was to marry the princess with a nose three feet long.
....."How did you come to know about him?" asked the old crone, "but maybe you are the girl who ought to have had him?"
.....Yes, she was.
....."So, so; it's you is it?" said the old crone. "Well, all I know about him is that he lives in the castle that lies East of the Sun and West of the Moon, and thither you'll come, late or never. Still you hay have the use of my horse, and on him you can ride to my next neighbour. Maybe she'll be able to tell you. When you get there, just give the horse a switch under the left ear, and tell him to be off home. And, stay! this golden apple you may take with you."
.....She got upon the horse, and rode a long, long time, til she came to another crag, under which sat another old crone, with a golden carding-comb. The girl asked her if she knew the way to the castle that lay East of the Sun and West of the Moon. She answered, like the first old crone, that she knew nothing about it, except it was East of the Sun and West of the Moon.
....."And thither you'll come, late or never. But you shall have the use of my horse to my next neighbour. Maybe she'll tell you all about it. When you get there, just switch the horse under the left ear, and tell him to be off home."
.....This old crone gave her the golden carding come. It might be she would find a use for it, she said. So the girl got up on the horse, and rode a far, far way, and a weary time. At last she came to another great crag, under which sat another old crone, spinning with a golden spinning wheel. She asked her if she knew the way to the Prince, and where the castle was that lay East of the Sun and West of the Moon. It was the same thing over again.
....."Maybe it's you who ought to have had the Prince?" said the old crone.
.....Yes, is was.
.....But she, too, didn't know the way a bit better than the other two, East of the Sun and West of the Moon it was, she knew - that was all.
....."And thither you'll come, late or never. But I'll lend you my horse, and then I think you had best ride to the East Wind and ask him. Maybe he knows those parts, and can blow you thither. But when you get to him, you need only give the horse a switch under the left ear, and he'll trot home himself."
.....And so, too, she gave her the golden spinning-wheel. "Maybe you'll find a use for it," said the old crone.

Then on she rode many, many days, a weary time, before she got to the East Wind's house. At last she did reach it, and then she asked the East Wind if he could tell her the way to the Prince who dwelt East of the Sun and West of the Moon. The East Wind had often heard of the Prince and the castle, but he could not tell the way, for he had never blown so far.
....."But if you will, I'll go with you to my brother the West Wind. maybe he knows, for he's much stronger. If you will just get on my back I'll carry you thither."
.....She got on his back, and I should just think they went briskly along.
.....When they got there, they went into the West Wind's house, and the East Wind said the girls he had brought was the one who ought to have had the Prince, who lived in the castle East of the Sun and West of the Moon. She had set out to seek him, and he had come with her, and would be glad to know if the West Wind knew how to get to the castle.
....."Nay," said the West Wind, "I've never blown so far. But, if you are willing, I'll go with you to our brother the South Wind, for he's much stronger than either of us, and he has flapped his wings far and wide. Maybe he'll tell you. You can get on my back, and I'll carry you to him."
.....She got on his back, and they went to the South Wind, and were not so very long on the way, I should think.
.....When they got there, the West Wind asked him if he could tell her the way to the castle that lay East of the Sun and West of the Moon, for it was she who ought to have had the Prince who lived there.
....."You don't say so! That's she, is it?" said the South Wind. "Well, I have travelled about in most places in my time, but I have never blown so far. If you will go, I'll take you to my brother the North Wind; he is the oldest and strongest of the whole lot of us. If he does not know where it is, you'll never find anyone in the world to tell you. You can get on my back, and I'll carry you thither."
.....She got on his back, and away he went from his house at a fine rate. This time too, she wasn't long on her way.
.....When they got to the North Wind's house, he was very wild and cross, and cold puffs came from him a long way off.
....."WHO ARE YOU, AND WHAT DO YOU WANT?" he roared out to them ever so far off, so that it struck them with an icy shiver.
....."Well," said the South Wind, "you needn't be so cross, for here I am, your brother the South Wind, and here is the girl who ought to have had the prince who dwells in the castle that lies East of the Sun and West of the Moon. She wants to ask you if you were ever there, and can tell her the way, for she would be glad to find him again."
....."YES, I KNOW WELL ENOUGH WHERE IT IS," said the North Wind. "Once in my life I blew an aspen leaf thither, but I was so tired I couldn't blow a puff for ever so many days after. If you really wish to go thither, and are not afraid to come along with me, I'll take you on my back and see if I can blow you thither.
.....She replied that she must and would go thither, if it were possible in any way. As for fear, however madly he went, she wouldn't be at all afraid.
....."Very well then," said the North Wind, "but you must sleep here tonight, for we must have the whole day before us if we are to get thither at all."

Early next morning the North Wind woke her, and puffed himself up, and blew himself out, and made himself so stout and big that it was fearful to look at him. Off they went, high up through the air, as if they would never stop till they got to the world's end.
.....Down below there was such a storm! It threw down great woods, and many houses, and when it swept over the sea ships were sunk by hundreds.
.....They tore on and on - no-one can believe how far they went - and all the while they still went over the seas. The North Wind became more and more weary, and so out of breath he could scarcely bring out a puff. His wings dropped and drooped, till at last he sank so low that the crests of the waves dashed over his heels.
....."Are you afraid?" said the North Wind.
....."Oh no!" she answered.
.....They were not very far from land, and the North Wind had still as much strength left in him as to throw her up on the shore under the windows of the castle, which lay East of the Sun and West of the Moon. Then he was so weak and worn out, he had to stay there and rest many days before he could go home again.
.....Next morning, the girl sat down under the castle window, and began to play with the golden apple. The first person she saw was the long-nose, who was to have the Prince.
....."What do you want for your golden apple, girl?" said Long-nose, looking over the window.
....."It's not for sale for gold or money," said the girl.
....."If it's not for sale for gold or money, what is it that you will sell it for? You may name your own price," said the Princess.
....."Well, if I may get to the Prince, who lives here, and sit beside him tonight, you shall have it," said the girl, whom the North Wind had brought.
.....Yes, she might; that could be done. The Princess got the golden apple. But when the girl came up to the Prince's room at night he was fast asleep. She called him, and shook him, and she wept sore, but, for all she could do, she couldn't wake him up. Next morning, as soon as day broke, came the Princess with the long nose and drove her out again.
.....In the daytime she sat down under the castle windows, and began to card with her golden carding-comb, and the same thing happened. The Princess asked what she wanted for it, and she said it wasn't for sale for gold or money. If she might get leave to go up to the Prince and sit beside him that night, the Princess should have it. When she went up, she found him fast asleep again, and for all she called, and all she shook, and wept, and prayed, she couldn't get life into him. As soon as the day dawned, the Princess with the long nose came, and chased her out.
.....Again, in the daytime, the girl sat down outside, under the castle window, and began to spin with her golden spinning-wheel, and that, too, the Princess with the long nose wanted to have. She threw up the window and asked what she wanted for it. The girl said, as she had said twice before, it wasn't for sale for gold or money. If she might go up to the prince who was there, and sit with him that night, she might have it.
.....Yes, she might do that and welcome. Now you must know there were some christian folk who had been carried off thither. They sat in their room, which was next to that of the Prince, and they had heard how a woman had been in there, and wept and prayed, and called to him two nights running, and they told that to the Prince.

That evening, when the Princess came with her sleeping drink, the Prince made as if he drank, but threw it over his shoulder. He knew it was a sleeping drink. When the girl came in, she found the Prince wide awake. She told him the whole story how she had come thither.
....."Ah!" said the Prince, "you've just come in time, for tomorrow is to be our wedding day. I won't have Long-nose, and you are the only woman in the world who can set me free. I'll say I want to see what my wife is fit for, and beg her to wash the shirt which has the three spots of tallow on it. She'll say 'Yes', for she doesn't know it is you who put them there. That's a work only for christian folk, and not for such a pack of fairies. I'll say that I shall not have any other for my bride than the woman who can wash them out, and ask you to do it."
.....There was great joy and love between them all that night. But next day, when the wedding was to be, the Prince said:
....."First of all, I would like to see what my bride is fit for."
....."Yes," said the stepmother, with all her heart.
....."Well," said the Prince, "I've got a fine shirt which I would like for my wedding shirt, but somehow or other it has got three spots of tallow on it. I must have these washed out, and I have promised never to take any other bride than the woman who's able to do that. If she can't she's not worth having."
.....Well, that was no great thing, they said. So they agreed, and she with the long nose began to ash away as hard as she could. But the more she rubbed and scrubbed, the bigger the spots grew.
....."Ah!" said the old hag, her mother; "you can't wash; let me try."
.....She had not taken the shirt in hand long before it got far worse than ever, and with all her rubbing and scrubbing the spots grew bigger and blacker, and the darker and uglier was the shirt.
.....Then all the other faeries began to wash, but the longer they tried, the blacker and uglier the shirt grew. At last it was as black all over as if it had been up the chimney.
....."Ah!" said the Prince, "you're none of you worth a straw, you can't wash. Why there, outside, sits a beggar girl. I'm sure she knows how to wash better than the whole lot of you. COME IN, GIRL!" he shouted.
.....Well, in she came.
....."Can you wash this shirt clean?" said he.
....."I don't know," she said, "but I think I can."
.....Then, almost before she had taken it and dipped it in the water, it was as white as driven snow.
.....Yes, you are the girl for me," said the Prince.
.....At that the old hag flew into such a rage that she burst on the spot, and the Princess with the long nose after her, and the whole pack of faeries after he - at least I've never heard a word about them since.
.....As for the Prince and Princess, they set free all the poor christian folk who had been carried off and shut up there. Then they took with them all the silver and gold, and went far away as far as they could from the castle that lay East of the Sun and West of the Moon.

This story comes from a book entitled A Book of Stories from the Norse,
published circa 1927 by Blackie & Son, London.


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