BRUDFJÄLLET Om traditionsbärande ortnamnsnarrativ i landskapet och dess betydelse för upplevelsen av en plats

Abstract

There are many places in Sweden with the prefix ‘bride’ in their name. Oftentimes there are legends associated with these places. The legends often involve a bride who died, or a bridal procession where turmoil erupted resulting in the death of one or more members of the party. One such place is Brudfjället (the ‘Bride Mountain’ direct translation) in Dalsland, Sweden, which is also surrounded by a legend of a deceased bride. This essay investigates the cultural heritage related to Brudfjället in Dalsland, as well as if, and how, place names with the prefix ‘Bride’ and their narrative has a place making function. The investigation is performed partly through a questionnaire study and partly through archive studies. It is found that place names with the prefix ‘Bride’ in general, and the place name Brudfjället in particular, has a place making function for those who already know the place. This phenomenon occurs through the place’s narrative which gives an explanation to the place’s name.