Troll cross

Lore & Background

Troll crosses mainly stem from middle Sweden, primarily Uppland, and were used up until the early 20th century. They belong to an old superstitious belief system and folklore common in rural parts of the country before modern times. While the cross symbol is likely Christian in nature, the practice of decorating objects with symbols for supernatural protection likely stems from pagan roots, based on various other similar finds and surviving practices linked with descriptions found in Icelandic Sagas, such as horse heads. Similar practices are also known from medieval buildings in Norway.

Reader's Guide

Troll crosses were often placed on entrances, such as above a door or window, or on posts by an entrance. Decorated objects like tables have featured up to 9–10 crosses. A common theme was protecting food: troll crosses were applied to cast metal cookware via the mold, cut onto loaves of bread when baking, and some home mills let grain pour through a hole garnished with crosses. Beyond symbols, phrases and practices were used with food—when breaking a cookie, one was supposed to say 'Gud signe' ('God bless'). Protecting milk products was seen as important; before selling milk, a burning match was put into the milk to protect it. In modern times, a new take on the troll cross has been popularized, especially in neopagan circles, taking the form of a looped piece of iron bent so that the ends 'cross' each other, with inward going curls decorating the ends, worn as an amulet or bracelet. It was first created as jewellery by smith Kari Erlands from western Dalarna, Sweden, sometime in the late 1990s, claimed to be a copy of a protective rune found at her grandparents' farm, though this has not been verified. It bears some resemblance to the othala rune ᛟ, but it is more likely that Erlands mistook a house mark for a protective symbol.

Did You Know?

• A common theme was protecting food; crosses were cut onto loaves of bread when baking.
• The modern looped iron amulet version is a recent invention, but its origin is not attributed to any specific known smith or documented historical source.