Legend from the area
Elf-folk in Hannenov Forest
They shot the cattle in Egemosen and led wanderers astray in Hannenov Forest. But if you found them sleeping, an old hymn book could give you power over them.
On Falster there are many alder bogs, home to the elf-folk: elf-wives, elf-maidens and their kind. According to local legend, they were especially found in Hannenov Forest and in Egemosen, which borders the vicarage's field in Tingsted.
Elf-shot cattle
In Egemosen the elf-folk had a nasty habit: they shot the cattle. An animal that had been hit was elf-shot or earth-shot. It would go stiff and die unless help came quickly.
The remedy was this: you led the animal out of the bog and fired a shot over it, aimed from the head towards the tail. You could also prevent the misfortune in the first place. The first time in spring the cattle were turned out to graze, people laid a coin in the stable doorway and let the animals walk over it. Then the danger was usually not great.
Astray in Hannenov
In Hannenov Forest the elf-folk were dangerous to people. They especially tried to lead travellers astray - and they succeeded too, unless the wanderer had a rowan twig in their mouth. Once you had lost your way, there was only one remedy: pull off your sheepskin coat at once and turn it inside out. Then you could find your way home again.
The hymn book under the chin
Many people had seen them standing in the alder bogs, leaning back against an alder tree or an alder stump. And now comes the important part: if you came across one of them asleep in that position, and you had an old hymn book to hand, you were to lay the hymn book under their chin. Then you had power over them and could force them to tell what the future would bring.
A woman from Tåderup, known as Telse-mor, was once said to have done exactly that - in Borremosen, which divides Hannenov from Oustrup Forest. But people also thought she knew more than her Lord's Prayer, and some even said she was a witch.
Today you can ride and walk calmly on the marked paths through Hannenov. But should you lose your way: turn your coat inside out.
Source: J.K. Lindberg's recorded legends, reprinted in Ketty Lykke Jensen, Ønslev og Eskilstrup Sogne (2009), p. 187. Retold.