"Nøkken" (water spirits), by Theodor Kittelsen, 1904

Midsummer Night’s Eve is soon upon us. This is when a crack appears in the surface of the world and the Hidden Folk: fairies, elves, dwarves, gnomes, brownies, pixies, selkies and such, crawl through and wreak havoc in our lives.

In truth, the Hidden Folk are always around, but usually invisible. Their time is the in-between time: the space between the seasons like Halloween or early spring; the daily transition periods of dusk and dawn; and especially Midsummer Night’s Eve and the winter solstice. On these days time stands still for a little while as the length of the day begins to reverse itself. That’s when the crack appears and out they come.

The Hidden Folk are not really evil, but cause a great deal of havoc and trouble. You can protect yourself by wearing silver, lighting candles and bonfires, and above all by seeking the company of friends and relatives. That’s what I did in Norway last year, a place where the Hidden Folk are especially active on a Midsummer Night’s Eve.

This film was shot in Norway last Midsummer Night's Eve at an amazing party in Kjerringvik where our cabin is. Sven Nordin, one of Norway's most famous actors, who's also a great musician, held a mostly impromptu concert. Here he is singing "Kom til onkel." I'm in the back singing along with my friend Johanne and my young friend Anni. This is how to keep ghouls, dark elves and other wicked spirits away on Midsummer Night's Eve.