Hårgadansen or Hårgasägnen is a legend about how the devil himself, disguised as a fiddler, made the young people in the village of Hårga in Hälsingland dance themselves to death. The oldest known record of the legend was made by the commissioner of Bollnäs Johan Gabriel Lindström in 1785 and is reproduced in JD Flitenberg's collections about Hälsinglan

Swedish. "Hårgalåten", or the "Harga song", is a Swedish folk song. The song is connected to a 1785 story published by Johan Gabriel Lindström. The song describes how a mysterious fiddler came to the community near Hårgaberget or "Harga mountain", and played the fiddle. The youth danced to the tune that the fiddler played and they were unable to stop. Some of the youth noticed a cloven hoof, leading them to believe the fiddler was demonic. Even as morning came, the adults noticed they were all still dancing, and the fiddler still fiddling. Later, the dancers started dropping dead from exhaustion. Ths has nothing to do with the Viking age.

English translation: The fiddler grabbed the fiddle from it's case And lifted his bow towards the dawning Sunday sun Then the people of Hårga came in a hurry Forgot about God and the whole world They danced over meadows and hills High upon the top of Hårga ridge One wore out both shoes and heels One could not stop the dance Where do you come from, you who is playing Tell us who taught you such play, so wild and mad If you don't stop our hearts will burst Oh God preserve us, he has a cloven hoof! The bells had rung in the valley, And father and mother and brother Walked to the parish church Where can Hårga's youth now be? Oh my God, they are still dancing! They danced to the Hårga tune High upon the top of Hårga ridge They are not far from crying Dancing, they now wore out soul and body Stop your bow, fiddler Before we dance our life, soul and bones away No he doesn't stop his dance Until we all fall dead down

My grandmother used to sing this song to me as a lullaby when I was a child. It was obviously a little bit frightening, but also beautiful. And still comforting when it was sung from my grandmother.

This is a certified hood classic

loove the sound of nordic languages in music. This is beautiful!

Honestly I clicked thinking I was going to find a black metal song lol. Anyway, this is good!

This song brings me back to childhood. I used to spend the summers in a little village 10 minutes away from Hårga.

My god this video made me cry happy tears! I've grown up with this song very close to my heart since my family has always loved it and have sung it together multiple times. And the song always had a magical feel to me. I live in Bollnäs. Bollnäs is the muncipally where Hårgaberget(Hårga Mountain), and Hårga village is located. And I drive through the cute little Hårga village regularly. The song reminds me of my great grandmother who was amazing at playing the "nyckelharpa"(the Nyckelharpa is a traditional Swedish string instrument) and she used to travel all around Hälsingland(a province where Bollnäs and Hårga is located) playing the song and multiple other songs most of her life. The last time i heard her play the nyckelharpa she was 93 years old and me, my mun and my boyfriend visited her for a "fika" and someone mentioned her musical skills and she sprung up out of her seat with a big smile and fetched the nyckelharpa and sat down and started playing for us. She was strong and healthy even for her old age but her fingers were of course more shaky and not as quick as they used to be but that almost made it more beautiful. Thank you for making this video and exposing this music to a wider audience so that more people might find the magic in it!

I have always loved these kinds of songs about sagas or some folklore story from another time and life! The Old Norse language and those the derive from that language is so beautiful and I also just discovered I have Scottish, Indeginous people and Norwegian/Danish blood

One of the best tunes to come from Sweden, and a wonderfully haunting rendition of it.

I would like to share a very local legend that I grew up with. When I went to middle-school (in Norway), our music teacher told us a story about the neighboring village and their fiddler. Apparently, there was at some point a ban on fiddle music, so the the village fiddler would go to the woods and play the fiddle for himself, but the wind and the echoes would carry the tunes over to our village, and so the superstitious in my village believed it to be the devil playing his his fiddle in woods. I'm guessing that most of these myths and legends are Christianized versions of the Fossegrim and/or Nøkken stories. Edit: Grammar

Such a beautiful language combined with beautiful female vocals and amazing music is a delight! A bewitching creation!

After discovered heilung and danheim, I discovered other music like this. They're great

I went up on Hårgaberget today, for the first time. Such a surreal feeling for someone who's been fascinated by our old Folk legends. The legend of Hårga is very precious to me as someone who is also local to the landscape. I remember being taught the song when I was in third grade. Thank you for making this!

Enchanting music and vocals.

We have an Appalachian tale about this, but the deer men will come and dance with the girls until they die and run away once it's over, only to come back again. If a man asks you to dance you look at their feet and if you see deer hooves you run away and tell the men.

Ten years ago, your music was rubbing salt into my wounds. Now, it heals.

Absolutely stunning song and haunting story. The instrumentation at times reminds one of Loreena McKennitt's Celtic folk music, and a good reminder of how all good music is connected.

Clicked on this expecting to be just another song from another Viking Metal band that I didn't know yet... well, that was a surprise! Beautiful song! It gave me chills!!!! Just searched for the full album and I'm currently listening to it. I'm loving it!

I moved from Sweden 10 years ago and this is the most beautiful song i heard since then. Very sentimental. Want to go back 😁

i'm gonna have to thank In Flames for introducing me to traditional swedish music

The best Hårgalåten performance yet ❤

Nie powinniśmy zatracać swojej kultury w imię źle pojętego "postępu". Taka myśl naszła podczas słuchania tej magicznej melodii... Piękne!

Well, this suddenly appeared in my YT Home, I liked. 👍👍

I have no idea how I ended up here in the wee hours of the morning, but I'm glad I did, this is a wonderful audiovisual work

I love this. I am very into nordic sounds. I find this sound very relaxing and it is beautiful.

We must love nature as it love us, not to destroy it. Beautiful song, thumbs up!

Makes me feel the world i've never seen, live the spirits i've never met and know the ancestors' life i've never known... Thank you so much... From TURKEY

Tous ce que vous avez fait est magnifique. Jolie musique et superbe clip. Bravo à vous tous pour cette très belle création. Everything you have done is wonderful. Nice music and great clip. Congratulations to all of you for this very beautiful creation.

Finally a great swedish folk song played beautifully 👌🏻 kæmpe respekt fra Danmark 🇩🇰

Beautiful is the only word that comes to mind

It's all fun and games until you can't quit...

This is beautiful. I had no idea what she was singing but the video reminded me of the story of the dancing plague of 1518, (well apparently it's not a story). Then to read the lyrics and it all made sense. I love it!

I wanna be Viking so hard with this music

Helt fantastiskt!!! Brukar kolla runt på nätet efter nya versioner av denna visa, och äntligen kom den bästa. Denna visa ligger mig väldigt varmt om hjärtat då jag bor endast ett stenkast ifrån Hårgaåsens fot, och därmed är uppväxt med denna mytomspunna sägen. Tack så mycket för detta vackra verk.

Це просто насолода для вух та душі ❤️

Swedish lyrics - English translation: (For those of you interested in the languages - which I read some were in the comments below) Spelmannen drog fiol ur lådan,/ The fiddler pulled the fiddle out of the box, och lyfte stråken högt mot söndagssolens kula,/ and raised the bow high towards Sunday's dawning sun. Då blev det fart på Horgafolket,/ Then the people from 'Hårga' got up to speed, de glömde Gud och hela världen/ They forgot (about) God and the whole world. Varifrån kommer du som spelar/ From where do you come who is playing Säg vem har lärt dig detta spel/ Tell who have taught play this way Det vilda galna/ So (The) wild and mad. Stannar du inte brister hjärtat/ If you don't not stop our hearts will fail/burst. Åh gud bevare han har bockfot/ Oh God save (us) he has club feet Klockorna hade ringt i dalen och där gick/ The bells had rung in the valley and there went Far och mor och bror till sockenkyrkan/ Father and mother and brother to the parish church Var kan nu Hårgas ungdom vara/ Where might "Hårgas'" youth be now Å herregud de dansar ännu/ Oh my God they are dancing still Hejda din stråke spelman innan du/ Stop your bow fiddler before you Dansar liv och själ och alla ben ur kroppen/ Dance the life and soul and all the bones out from the body Nej inte slutar han sin dans förr'ns om/ No(,) he will not stop his dance(/song) until Allesammans faller döda/ Everybody drops down dead *This text is written in an older vernacular form of Swedish, which isn't always as easily/readily translated into English. It's after all an old 'folk-song', where the text is based on a local legend from 'Hälsingland' (a county in Sweden) which was first recorded in 1785. I hope it helps.

This song fills me with so much joy and sadness at the same time. Love it! ❤

The Norse mythology is probably the most accurate depiction we have of ancient Europe before the Romans invaded, in Britain where I'm from for example we know was the focal point of Druid practice and yet, we have no idea what they actually practiced, the Romans wiped everything out.

Denne traff virkelig sjelen. Historien bak, låten og videoen. Virkelig bra. Takk.

I grew up with it as a native Swede. Sometimes it makes my heart bleed.

One of the most beautiful languages ever.

Absolutely beatiful music and violin

Riktigt bra jobbat, en klassiker som fått en ny magisk touch.

I dont think Ive ever saved a song to my KZfaq playlist faster! Holy shit!

This just takes me away from the stress of life the music the language it's just completely peaceful and beautiful

Warm, simple, happy, pacific, clear song....Nice to soul sometimes.

As i Swede, i feel privileged to understand what they sing about!

Greetings from Brazil! Another outstanding music vídeo! It just made me listen the whole album and I must say, what a perfection! Keep up with the great job!

one of my favorite song and video of this year!! i can't stop to listen!! simply love it

Wonderful, I applaud for you my friends. The evolutionary cross of ofdrykkja just marvel at me.

Thank you for this beautifull work… that was just brilliant and totally brought me in another mood ! Hails from Switzerland :)

Beautiful stuff. Absolutely love it!

wow, there's this legend of Krysař, here in Moravia, comig from Germany, about the exact same thing.

Man, I love music like this.

More youth lost to the fiddle of the Nøkken. Always beware these magic and ancient spirits and pay heed to our stories

I don't know why but I feel relax and happy when i listen to this music

Pure art! Fantastic music.

Nobody does beauty and despair like Ofdrykkja

The recording and sound mastering is absolutely enchanting

Helt fantastiskt!

Ich kenne die Band als sie sich noch Apati nannte und habe einen ähnlichen Lebensstil geführt. Viele Drogen und eine lebensverneinende Einstellung zum Leben gehabt. Ich fühle mich mit der Band sehr verbunden und freue mich über diesen Wandel. In tiefer Verbundenheit, liebe Grüße aus Sachsen / Deutschland

That's just lovely! Most of my family is from around Bollnäs so it struck close to my heart.

Beautiful. (And the vocals remind me very much of Emma Härdelin.)

Hauntingly beautiful...

Not expecting it , but totally loving the surprise now.

I didn't know there was new music out, but this is awesome! Thank you!

Så otroligt vackert och sorgligt, samtidigt.

Absolutely outstanding version!! 🔥🔥

Absolutely beautiful ❤

Helt underbar låt! Klart en ny favorit

belissimo. parabens. que qualidade!

Man this is gorgeous

Väldigt vacker sång och lyssna på, denna åker på en utav mina gillade sånger... Bra jobbat!!! 👍🏻

This. This is art.

Legender hele gjengen💪🤩 Hilsen stolt dansemamma❤️❤️

Beautiful! 😍

altså er majestetisk låt vi ikke fortjener. Tusen takk igjen, ofdrykkja.

Stunning and majestic af. Those Swedes and their freakish musical gifts eh.

So beautiful 🥰❤️💫💚

Aaah yesss LOVE ITTT!!❤️👌

thank you so much. helps a lot

I like this feel, Nice song!!¡

amazing music, this is fantastic.

In a moment i got goosebumps ,Awesom!!! !!!!!Skaaaaaaaaal !!!!!!!!

Amazing!

classic music, I like the song greetings from Indonesia

Majestic!

thank you for this ;,)

Hermoso vídeo!!! Love how you transmit this Historical lore! Muchas Gracias bello trabajo🌊🌲🌈🍻🔥 hola from the Caribbean Island Puerto Rico🏝

Mágico! 🖤

What a dark song That is the most perfect song I heard

Lovely!

Reminds me of the band Skald. I love this soooo much.

LINDO Outra atmosfera...

The song is wonderful!

Charming, pleasant music 😊

The dancing plague of 1518, or dance epidemic of 1518 (French: Épidémie dansante de 1518), was a case of dancing mania that occurred in Strasbourg, Alsace (modern-day France), in the Holy Roman Empire from July 1518 to September 1518. Somewhere between 50 and 400 people took to dancing for weeks. There are many theories behind the phenomenon, the most popular being stress-induced mass hysteria, suggested by John Waller.[1][2] Other theories include ergot and religious explanations. There is controversy concerning the number of deaths.[3] From wiki.

Such a beautiful atmospheric production, Im sure that your friend Stefan love it. Really well made. One of the best versions Ive heard of it. My next instrument will be a moraharpa or a nyckelharpa, defenitly! Skål!