Talk:Helhest

Confusion

What is meant by "blunders in noisily" ? I have also not really heard the phrase "Han går som en helhest" ("He walks like a hel horse") here in Denmark, and can't find many sources on it either online. Can someone provide a good source to me? --Luka1184 (talk) 23:09, 12 November 2018 (UTC)

Bump??? 87.72.89.8 (talk) 10:09, 9 March 2023 (UTC)

If it is not provided, I want to remove the part of it. Please, provide a source. Luka1184 (talk) 02:28, 4 April 2025 (UTC)

Hello, sorry for the bump. The source does exist, though it seems to have been through a bit of a game of telephone over time. The point of origin is the fourth volume of the now 200 years old Danish work Eddalæren og dens Oprindelse by Finnur Magnússon, which notes on p. 338 that denne mythiske Hest kun havde tre Födder, og at den viste sig udenfor Dörrene, naar Nogen skulde döe. Heraf kommer og den Talemaade, at En siges at gåe eller træde som en Helhest, naar man gjör stærke eller tunge Skridt, og derved foraarsager stort Bulder.

The source for the statement of giving death a "pack of oats" is present in both Magnússon's work, as well as Jacob Grimm's Deutsche Mythologie which mentions, on page 804, that Der Hel und ihrem boten wird gleich andern göttern ein pferd zugestanden haben; das bestätingen noch redensarten und meinungen die hin und wieder bei dem volk haften. Wer von schwerer krankheit genesen ist pflegt zu sagen; 'Jeg gav Döden en schiäppe havre.' (Thiele 1, 13S), er hat dem Tod für sein ross einen scheffel haber geopfert und ihn damit besänftigt.

I will make a Wikipedia account in order to change the article to reflect this and provide further clarity in the language and sources. ~2026-22178-75 (talk) 12:38, 10 April 2026 (UTC)

Okay, so making a new Wikipedia account was too much work so I just edited it, lol. Hopefully it is okay that I included German and Danish sources! ~2026-22178-75 (talk) 13:32, 10 April 2026 (UTC)