One of the most famous Norwegian fairy tales is “East of the Sun and West of the Moon”, one of the “old tales from the north” originally collected and retold by Peter Cristen Asbjørnsen. This tale has various versions, but here is a condensed retelling of the narrative:
In a small Norwegian village, there lived a poor peasant who had a beautiful daughter. One day, a great white bear visited their humble cottage. The bear spoke with a human voice and proposed a deal: in exchange for untold riches, the bear would take the peasant’s daughter to live with him in a grand castle. The peasant, tempted by the promise of wealth, agreed to the arrangement. The next morning, the bear transformed into a handsome prince, revealing that he was under a curse. The prince could only regain his true form if someone loved him enough to marry him, despite his appearance. The young girl, full of compassion, agreed to marry the prince. The couple lived happily in the enchanted castle, surrounded by magical servants and wonders beyond imagination. Yet, the prince was bound by another curse: he had to spend part of each year in the form of a bear. Curiosity got the better of the young bride, and one fateful night, she lit a candle to see her husband’s face while he was in his bear form. As the light touched his face, the enchantment was broken, and the prince vanished, leaving only a quest for the girl to find him again. Determined to reunite with her husband, the girl embarked on a perilous journey. She sought guidance from the North Wind, who told her that her husband was taken to a castle east of the sun and west of the moon. The journey would be treacherous, and she would need the help of the four winds to reach her destination. With the North Wind’s guidance, the girl faced trials and challenges, overcoming obstacles set by the trolls who guarded the path to the castle. Along the way, she gathered the assistance of the West Wind, the South Wind, and the East Wind, each providing their unique strengths. Finally, she reached the castle east of the sun and west of the moon. There, she found her prince, held captive by a wicked troll queen. The girl, with the help of the winds, outwitted the trolls and broke the curse once and for all. United at last, the couple returned to the enchanted castle, where they lived happily ever after. Their tale spread throughout Norway, a testament to the power of love, bravery, and the enduring spirit of those who dare to venture east of the sun and west of the moon.
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