We don't often talk about Moomintroll and his family and friends on this blog, but there is something that needs to be reported. We do occasion ally look at strange natural phenomena associated with glaciers, snow and ice -- and there is something very strange going on in Norway at the moment.
The Norwegian weather service reports that up in the mountains a combination of circumstances (freezing temperatures, adequate moisture, spray from the open water nearby, and spiky vegetation) has given rise to a vast area of strange projecting ice nodules that they refer to as HATTIFNATTAR -- because of their resemblance to the Hattifnattar in the Moomin stories. (In English they are referred to as "hattifatteners"....)
They are rather intriguing creatures, and are well described in this Wikipedia entry:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hattifattener
So now you know.
Watched that TV programme about the lady author of the Moomins sometime during 2016 I think, and you did a little Post at that time.
ReplyDeleteNever read her stories, but it made me want to take a look.
".....and if reindeers really do know how to fly"
ReplyDelete[ from 'Have Yourselves A Merry Little Christmas']
What's the origin of that legend/folk tale, folks?? Meteorological? Pharmaceutical?
What is the address of the Norwegian weather service. I shall give it a try.
ReplyDeleteM
Tove Jansson was a very interesting lady -- and the Moomin books are of course classics. Translated into many languages -- and the comic strip was in newspapers all over the world. Probably still is, for all I know. Although her stories are for children, they have been deeply analysed as dealing with many aspects of "the human condition"....... the story about the hattifnattar is really about Moominpappa's mid-life crisis.
ReplyDeleteMyris -- the Norwegian site is here:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.yr.no
You should be able to enter any location in Europe.
Flying reindeers? Goodness knows where they came from. Worth a little research, methinks......
ReplyDeleteI recommend a German app from MeteoGroup. Gets it right in Tenby more often than not, and that is saying something.
ReplyDeleteCurious that a lady with a mid-life crisis should imagine all these little p**** and be able to translate into stories for children without getting arrested.
Must read her sometime.
My favourite characters have always been the "Nork" Maidens!
ReplyDeleteEric Sykes' fictional sister, Hatti(e), was a COMPLETELY different shape to these specimens, but equally deeply - loved by a substantial audience, as well as by Eric himself (who, incidentally, helped Spike with some of the Goon Show scripts when he was under the weather, psychologically speaking).
ReplyDeleteFlying reindeer? Try MAGIC MUSHROOMS and SHAMAN and SANTA in your psychedelic Search Engine...
ReplyDeleteI'm going to stick with the "Norks maidens" so beloved of that vulgarian contemporary of Eric,Hattie and Spike! Bennie Hill! As a lifelong vulgarian one can not be anything but honest!
ReplyDeleteAs Spike once said "A baby rabbit with eyes full of pus is the work of scientific
us" This appears at first glance to be quite horrific until one considers the horrors
perpetrated by those of an unscientific/irrational and religious bent!
and Nooka, oh Princess Nooka.
ReplyDeleteBut I married Venus from Fireball XL5, look how that turned out.
Never mind boys nurse will be back soon.
Lets get a grip.
Having SEEN said baby rabbit with eyes full of pus when I was a small child ( up until then that afternoon enjoying a country walk), it was undoubtedly horrific. Not too sure the inventor of that dread disease [in Australia, was it?] was a particularly healthy specimen.
ReplyDeleteAnd don't lump all "religions"together, lest you cast the baby out with the bathwater. There is a redeemer. Give Him a chance. It's your choice. Take your time...