Stuffed with my Hair ....

Ancient Magic


Young seamstresses from 1900. My grandmother nr. 4 from the left. She also hid her combings in a pillow.

A woman, born in 1880, from a Christian wealthy farmer-family, left in her will some memorabilias to the local museum - and when the attendant of the museum took a look, she discovered a linen-bag with some strange contents. She knew at once what it was. She had in her youth lived in the home of a 80-year old woman, who always twisted her combings around her finger and hid it in a linen-bag, which belonged to her grave clothes and had to be put into her coffin as a pillow.

Besides the linen-bag at the museum were also a fine white, quite new nightgown with crochet lace and two handkerchiefs with the embroidered names of her and her husband, probably their wedding-handkerchiefs. All those things were neatly arranged in a larger linen-bag in her bureau and were meant to be her grave clothes - but since she suddenly became ill and died at a nursing home, they came to the museum, bearing witness that a woman in the 1960s still held on to an ancient custom.

This was not just a local custom; it was known all over the country, which many people have told about. Taking care of the hair was probably in some way connected to the sacrifice of hair, which has been observed in findings from the Danish bogs. It seems there was an old and far-reaching belief that there was a magic power attached to the human hair. The Greek poet Homer wrote that the slaves, who carried the bier, cut off their hair and covered the dead body with it.

The pillow with the combings might have connection to ancient times, where the sacrifice might have been a sacrifice to the gods of death. And hiding the hair might have been caused by the fear that a person's belongings might get into the hands of evil creatures, who by magic could achieve power over the person - since the hair contained powers from the personality.

The grave clothes of the old Danish woman shows that a magic idea with its roots back - not into Christianity - but into heathendom - might live in a Christian woman in the 1960s.


A chaffinch taking wool placed in a bush in the park. Human hair would probably also be okay.
An old word says that the combings had to be thrown upon the fire; if the birds found it and built their nests from it, she who had this hair would get a headache.

There might also be a connection between the plait loafs and the sacrificed plaits in the bogs from ancient times - which is a real possibility. The plait loafs can be traced far back in time, and it seems that they were originally made in order to be sacrificed - as a replacement for plaits of hair - for the gods who were the masters of life and death.

Source: Archaeological Magazine SKALK Nr. 2, 1970; "Stoppet med mit hår", by Chr. Waage Petersen.

photo: grethe bachmann

Stenbjerg Strand by the North Sea.

Stenbjerg Strand, Northwest Jutland by the North Sea 27 km southwest of the town Thisted

Stenbjerg is an old, peaceful fishing village, surrounded by the North Sea and magnificent plantation areas. The cosy village is sheltered from wind and weather by the lyme grass dunes behind the listed Stenbjerg Landingsplads. Here was earlier business fishing. The atmosphere by the landing place with the small white tool sheds, the lifeboat station and the old fishing houses is idyllic and lively. It is possible to buy fresh-caught fish from the local fishermen. In this area is peace, charm, fresh air, recreative, green surroundings and fine opportunities of bathing, fishing and walking in a unique nature area.

In the village Stenbjerg nearby are shops and a cosy inn.


Two retired fishermen keep an eye on the boat....


which is drawn out into the sea by a tractor.....


It came out allright and hopefully he'll return with some fresh fish!



Stenbjergs broad beach has a blue flag. There is sandy bottom, and the water is almost always clear. It deepens quickly and the stream can be strong. The wind gives good possibilities for windsurfing, and there are good opportunities for coast fishing at Stenbjerg and fishing in the lakes in the hinterland, in water streams and in Put & Take fishing parks - and a tour on a fishing boat for some deep-sea fishing.



In the old days were built a few fisherman's cottages around the life boat station at the beach, therefore the name Stenbjerg Landing Place. Stenbjerg is today famous for the small, characteristic, white washed cottages.


crabcake

There are many marked paths , i.e. Vestkyststien: a 80 km long walking/cycling path between Bulbjerg and Agger , which passes Stenbjerg. On the other side of Stenbjerg are green plantations with lakes, water streams, beech woods and pine trees , a varied and extensive landscape - and in the whole area the sky is immensely high, clear and blue. The light has been compared to the famous light at Skagen. Many artists come here to paint - and also the Skagen-painter P.S. Krøyer has stayed here.photo Stenbjerg: grethe bachmann

Portland Moor, Lille Vildmose, North Jutland in June-July-August

In Portland Mose have been established catwalks so you can walk safely through the wetland.

Lille Vildmose in the eastern part of Himmerland is an eldorado for nature lovers and people interested in history. It is Denmark's largest liste land area of 7600 hectare. Here are among other things Northwest Europe's largest raised bog, lakes whicch are rich in birds and unique nature- and grazing woods. There are opportunities to see royal eagle, wild boar, crane, red deer, otter and other large animals. It is all about enjoying the silence, the scents, the seasons, the open land, the bird life and the numerous lesser animals and plants.


In the Vildmose-land on the edge of Kattegat and just south of Limfjorden are rich opportunities to research the terrain on foot, on bicycle or in car. Lille Vildmosecenter is the natural center of a visit. Here is all information about the nature and culture in Vildmosen. People can choose to research the moor by themselves or on a guided tour.


Hare's-tail Cottongrass (Eriophorum vaginatum )

In the nature of Lille Vildmose you can walk on boggy ground where carnivorus plants like sundew grows. Its food are little flies, mosquitos and spiders, which it catches with its tempting, shining and sticky drops. In the sky above the moor and the open land are the best opportunities in Denmark to see the royal eagle hovering above its hunting grounds. The Vildmose-land is the cradle of the Danish royal eagles.

Long-tailed tit and swallow
From 1999 have royal eagles been breeding in the forest of Lille Vildmose, and now has the large white-tailed eagle also established itself in the area. The eagles are a part of the greatness of nature in the moor land. From Hegnsvej (road) south of Høstemark Forest in the northeastern part of Lille Vildmose are daily seen royal eagles, and at Tofte Sø (lake) has during long periods almost been a guarantee that the white-tailed eagle came in the telescope. The migthy raptors hunt often cormorants in the summer season by the large cormorant colony at Tofte Sø. Horses in Lille Vildmose

For several years the central lake has had Denmark's largest
colony of cormorants, about 4.000 couple, but the colony is
smaller now. This might be because there is a lack of fish in
Kattegat - or maybe because the eagles hunt the cormorants
and stress them.
Europe's tallest bird, the crane, is a characteristic touch in the
nature of the moor. From March until late autumn the trumpets
of the cranes are heard early morning and late evening. There
are several breeding couple in the area, which in periods attract
flocks of cranes that often seek food upon cultivated fields near
the Lille Vildmosecenter.


Cloudberry and Bog Rosemary

The landscape of Lille Vildmose is very varied with open
extensive land of raised bogs, lakes, grass fenns with horses
and cattle , birch- thicket, grazing-woods with red deer and
wild boar, plains and brown sections with a production of
spaghnum, which is about to stop in order to re-establish the
wet moor. Seen from the 30-40 m high hills which run north-
south west of Lille Vildmose are several view points. If you
stand an early morning on one of the hills and look across the
low moor land, while there is a ground mist, it is easy to sense
the form and extent of the moor.


Cranberry and Blackberry


Common Brimstone and Idas Blue

The ground mist fills each low place like a duvet of mist, so
you can see the outline of the moor. Some of Denmark's most
animal-rich grazing woods are situated in Lille Vildmose.
Høstemark Forest to the northeast and Tofte Forest to the
south are surrounded by game fences, but they can be visited
on guided tours. In the grazing woods are some of the largest
population of red deer in the country.


Painted Lady and Stag's-horn Clubmoss


Moor Frog and Common Lizard

In Tofte Forest and moor is Denmark's oldest and largest
population of 150 wild boars. Caused by the rich animal life
the grazing woods have a richness in species which is unique
in Denmark. In Høstemark Forest which is the best examined,
have scientists found more than 5.000 species of plants and
animals. And there are still found new species in the Vildmose-
forests, which are treasures of diversity.




Large heath and Common Blue


Eurasian Hobby/Lærkefalk/Falco subbuteo)
photo: Hegnsvej, Lille Vildmose: stig bachmann nielsen, Naturplan foto

The raised bog belong to the largest and best preserved
in the northwest European lowland. Tofte moor is an
impressive plain, from where you can hear the Eurasian
curlew, Europe's largest water bird, when it is whistling in
the summer season. The creation of Lille Vildmose begun
about 6.000 years ago in the time of the Stone Age Sea.

The eastern Himmerland was an archipelago with the
present Vildmose under water. Together with the lift of the
land Vildmosen was divided from the sea, which today is
Kattegat. The area became a lagoon, which edges gradually
was overgrown in reeds. A swamp developed during the times,
where spaghnum moss arrived. These mosses took over the
nature scenery and changed the swamp into a hængesæk (=
a plant-society made by tangled roots and stalks, which is
found and grows in the surface of a moor or above open water
without any connection to the bottom) - and later into a raised
bog with a firm plant cover. When the mosses came to the Lille
Vildmose- area around year 500 A.C., it gradually became the
raised bog we know today.




Migrant Hawker/Efterårsmosaikguldsmed/Aeshna mixta



Auerochs, these ochses are very shy, not curious like most cattle, they turn their back on you, "I want to be alone".

The sphagnum mosses can live and grow on rain water
and the nutrients which follows the rain. In this way a raised
bog functions as a gigantic landscape-sponge, which keeps the
rain water. The upper about half meter of the moor are living
spaghnum mosses, which grows and each year makes the moor
a few millimeter thicker. Under the living mosses is a peat-layer,
filled with water and free of oxygen. This peat-layer which
bottom is about 1.500 years old, is where Lille Vildmose is best
preserved in the central part of Tofte Moor. How it looks below
the upper and living layers of spaghnum moss is seen upon the
brown areas at Grønvej and Møllesøvej, where is still being
digged spaghnum for pot-soil. Here are cut meters from the
peat-layers, but the production of spaghnum will soon stop.

Contemporary to the stop of production the wet raised bog
nature will be re-created. It is the plan that the raised bog
will reach the extent almost like in the beginning of its life.
Along Hegnsvej in the northern part of Vildmosen has the
peat-production been given up, and here is seen how the
nature comes in and changes almost from month to month.
Here have now the greylags, cranes and marsh harriers begun
to breed, and spring and summer the bittern is heard, this
bird is the ghost of the reed-wood, it cries like an angry bull,
that roars far away. Thousend of dragon flies fly across the
old digging-places, which are now water filled and getting
overgrown after being used for industrial production for many
decades. The nature is getting back its lost terrain in Lille
Vildmose, which will become wetter and wilder in the years
to come.


Bulrush

photo Lille Vildmose, Portland, June, July, August 2008/2009: grethe bachmann

Marsh Harrier/Rørhøg

Lille Vildmose, North Jutland
and
The Story about the Long-billed Dowitcher ,
the Sparrow Hawk and the Fox


Marsh Harrier/ Rørhøg
(Circus aeruginosus)

Suddenly the marsh harrier showed beside our car and followed us on the long road that leads through a section of the nature reserve Lille Vildmose in the northeastern part of Jutland. We were out looking for the cranes. It was a cold, grey day -and in the night were frost degrees. We had reached the eight day of May. Only 6 degrees Celsius at noon. When will the sun and the warmth arrive?



The marsh harrier is a raptor with a wing span of 135 cm, a rare bird in Denmark with only 650-800 breeding couple. It builds its nest upon the ground in reed beds, in moors and along lake shores. Here is also the main part of its food, like water birds, water voles and mice. The marsh harrier is a migrating bird with winter quarters in the western Africa. A large number of marsh harriers from Sweden and Finland pass Denmark under both the spring- and autumn migration.


The marsh harrier is typically seen hovering on raised wings above reedbeds looking for prey. It is also a common thing to see it hunting in fields and meadows. Its large wings and small body weight makes this raptor eminent for this type of hunting. The male's plumage is striking with a brown back, blue grey tail and flight feathers and black wing tips. The underside of the wing is white with a black tip. The female is self-coloured dark brown with light crown, chin and wing fronts. The species belongs to the group of harriers, which in Denmark is also represented by Blå Kærhøg/Hen Harrier (Circus cyaneus) and Hedehøg/Montagu's Harrier. (Circus pygargus).



The marsh harrier is native to the southern Scandinavia down through western Europe and east to Russia. Closely related species live in the southern Africa, in Sibiria, the Pacific region with Australia and New Zealand and finally at Madagaskar. In Denmark it is found in wet areas with wellgrown reed woods, mainly in the southern and eastern part of the country, but some of the largest populations are in Jutland in the bird-sanctuaries: in Tøndermarsken, in Vejlerne and upon the Tipperne, which together with the Maribosøerne (lakes) at Lolland are top localities for the marsh harrier.


photo Vejlerne June 2006: stig bachmann nielsen, Naturplan Foto

Finally the marsh harrier left us and disappeared across the moor. We did not find the cranes that day. The birdwatchers only saw one, although there is a large flock now, but the moor is enormous with many hiding places for the birds. What do they care about those silly birdwatchers? We're watching out for flora and fauna in order to get some photos. A real birdwatcher is able to stay the whole day in rain and storm in order to watch a rare bird like a blue-winged duck, who suddenly came to visit Lille Vildmose a few days ago.

Last week there was a drama in Lille Vildmose. The birdwatchers were watching a long-billed Dowitcher, which is a foreign bird in Denmark. It had stayed in Lille Vildmose for some time- and the birdwatchers kept a close eye on it and made reports. Then suddenly, the other day, while the Dowitcher was peacefully tripping around in the water, came a sparrow hawk as quick as lightning. Pfuit! It all happened so fast and the birdwatchers were shocked. The sparrow hawk started eating the poor dowitcher, but then out of the blue came a fox - the sparrow hawk and the fox stared at each other, looking vigilant and hesitant, but the sparrow hawk made the choice to disappear, and the fox went off with the rare bird, probably unaware that this was a rather valuable steak.

photo: The fox with the dowitcher

Back to the grey day. The rain began and it was raining cats and dogs, we do not endure rain and storm like the birdwatchers, so we gave up and went home, but there'll be another day in Lille Vildmose in summer with lots of birds and butterflies and flowers.

photo Lille Vildmose 8. May 2010 : grethe bachmann

Marsh Harrier/Rørhøg in LIlle Vildmose, North Jutland

& the strange story about The Long-billed Dowitcher,
the Sparrow Hawk and the Fox.


Marsh Harrier/ Rørhøg
(Circus aeruginosus)

Suddenly the marsh harrier showed beside our car and followed us on the long road that leads through a section of the nature reserve Lille Vildmose in the northeastern part of Jutland. We were out looking for the cranes. It was a cold, grey day -and in the night were frost degrees. We had reached the eight day of May. Only 6 degrees Celsius at noon. When will the sun and the warmth arrive?



The marsh harrier is a raptor with a wing span of 135 cm, a rare bird in Denmark with only 650-800 breeding couple. It builds its nest upon the ground in reed beds, in moors and along lake shores. Here is also the main part of its food, like water birds, water voles and mice. The marsh harrier is a migrating bird with winter quarters in the western Africa. A large number of marsh harriers from Sweden and Finland pass Denmark under both the spring- and autumn migration.

The marsh harrier is typically seen hovering on raised wings above reedbeds looking for prey. It is also a common thing to see it hunting in fields and meadows. Its large wings and small body weight makes this raptor eminent for this type of hunting. The male's plumage is striking with a brown back, blue grey tail and flight feathers and black wing tips. The underside of the wing is white with a black tip. The female is self-coloured dark brown with light crown, chin and wing fronts. The species belongs to the group of harriers, which in Denmark is also represented by Blå Kærhøg/Hen Harrier (Circus cyaneus) and Hedehøg/Montagu's Harrier. (Circus pygargus).

The marsh harrier is native to the southern Scandinavia down through western Europe and east to Russia. Closely related species live in the southern Africa, in Sibiria, the Pacific region with Australia and New Zealand and finally at Madagaskar. In Denmark it is found in wet areas with wellgrown reed woods, mainly in the southern and eastern part of the country, but some of the largest populations are in Jutland in the bird-sanctuaries: in Tøndermarsken, in Vejlerne and upon the Tipperne, which together with the Maribosøerne (lakes) at Lolland are top localities for the marsh harrier.


photo Vejlerne June 2006: stig bachmann nielsen, Naturplan Foto

Finally the marsh harrier left us and disappeared across the moor. We did not find the cranes that day. The birdwatchers only saw one, although there is a large flock now, but the moor is enormous with many hiding places for the birds. What do they care about those silly birdwatchers? We're watching out for flora and fauna in order to get some photos. A real birdwatcher is able to stay the whole day in rain and storm in order to watch a rare bird like a blue-winged duck, who suddenly came to visit Lille Vildmose a few days ago.

Last week there was a drama in Lille Vildmose. The birdwatchers were watching a long-billed Dowitcher, which is a foreign bird in Denmark. It had stayed in Lille Vildmose for some time- and the birdwatchers kept a close eye on it and made reports. Then suddenly, the other day, while the Dowitcher was peacefully tripping around in the water, came a sparrow hawk as quick as lightning. Pfuit! It all happened so fast and the birdwatchers were shocked. The sparrow hawk started eating the poor dowitcher, but then out of the blue came a fox - the sparrow hawk and the fox stared at each other, looking vigilant and hesitant, but the sparrow hawk made the choice to disappear, and the fox went off with the rare bird, probably unaware that this was a rather valuable steak.

photo: The fox with the dowitcher

Back to the grey day. The rain began and it was raining cats and dogs, we do not endure rain and storm like the birdwatchers, so we gave up and went home, but there'll be another day in Lille Vildmose in summer with lots of birds and butterflies and flowers.

photo Lille Vildmose 8. May 2010 : grethe bachmann

Heatherhill and Rågeleje, North Zealand

A view across the sea



Heatherhill is a listed area with hills and valleys grown with heather, juniper and a fine flora - and sheep are grazing freely in the hills. The British tea-merchant Joseph Vincent gave the place its name Heatherhill and built around 1900 a manor in English style in the hills, which however was broken down in the 1950s. But the flowering hills are still here. All summer is Pasque Flower and Bloody Crane's-bill seen here among juniper and broom shrub. Butterflies like Glanville Fritillary and Burnets are seen in the area.Heatherhill is about 19 km northwest of Hillerød at the coast south of Rågeleje. Here is a parking place and information at the kiosk. The place is a few minutes walk from a lovely white bathing beach, which invites for coast fishing with good catch-possibilities. The characteristic hills and valleys are good for hiking and the hills are suitable for hang gliding.


Sheep are grazing freely


There are many fine viewpoints with benches


Parasol Mushroom Parasol Mushroom (Macrolepiota procera) grows often in dunes and in beach meadows. The parasol mushroom may be eaten raw. It is popular soaked in butter. Only the cap of fresh specimens is considered edibel.
There is a few poisonous species which can be mistaken for M. procera:
1)Chlorophyllum molybdites, a species that causes the largest number of annual mushroom poisonings in North America due to its close similarity. Faintly green gills and a pale green spore print give it away. Furthermore this mushroom lacks the aforementioned snakeskin pattern that is generally present on the parasol mushroom. Its range is reportedly expanding into Europe.
2) Leucocopronus brunnea, also found in North America, slowly turns brown when sliced.
3) White and immature species of Amanita are also a potential hazard. To be sure, one must only pick parasol mushrooms past their button stage. A general rule of thumb with the parasol mushroom as compared to amanita species is that the parasol mushroom has darker flakes on a lighter surface, whereas amanita species have the opposite, lighter flakes (if there are any) on a darker surface, such as the Panther cap.
4)The Saffron Parasol Cystoderma amianthinum is very much smaller, and not often eaten. 5)Lepiota brunneoincarnata is a lepiota species known to have caused mortal intoxications in Spain.


Rågeleje seen from Heatherhill



Along the coast from Rågeleje to Heatherhill are holiday houses in the hills

Rågeleje is one of the wellknown seaside resorts along the northern coast of Zealand, but the inhabitants in Rågeleje were until ab. year 1900 fishermen. The charming fishing town is now a popular holiday resort in a scenic countryside with the beautiful listed area Heatherhill nearby. Rågeleje is probably identical to a disappeared town Roka, which was mentioned in the medieval Esrum Klosterbook. In the 1500s it was the largest fishing town along the coast of North Zealand, but caused by sand drift and the decline of the herring fishing the town was desolate in the 1600s - but in the beginning of the 1700s it was established again. It is today one of the most popular holiday resorts at the coast of Zealand with attractive white beaches and listed nature areas, which are open to the public. The long beach with the white sand has fine conditions for wind- and kite-surfers. The beach has blue flag and in the summer season a life guard.


photo Heatherhills & Rågeleje 2008: grethe bachmann