Day XCI - Nix

Long, wet lustrous hair,

Spirit of northern waters,

Sound of sweet music.

A wonderful water spirit, the Nix goes by many names and is present across a range of northern European folk traditions, generally understood to be a mermaid or merman-like entity. Believed to have shapeshifting ability, artworks most often depict the Nix in human form and identify it as an enchanting creature that lures people to the shore through the power of music. The violin is the water-sprite's instrument of choice and in some folk traditions it's terribly effective in mesmerising passers-by and leading them to a drowning death. Saying the creature's name aloud can protect against its malevolent influence, though that'd assume you knew whether it was called Nix, Nixie, neck, näck, nøkk, nøkken, Grim, Fosse-grim or Strömkarl. Whatever label it goes by, the supernatural figure of northern European legend has also been perceived as a beautiful, harmless entity at one with nature who may even pass on its artistic abilities to others if it feels generous. All give a round of applause to the Nix making sweet sounds and capturing imaginations across Scandinavian, British and German mythology.

Day LVIII - Jötunn

Giants of the earth,

Destructive forces of the Norse,

Clashing with the gods.

A colossal part of Norse mythology, Jötunn (Old Norse: Jötnar) are the great race of giants who cast pretty big shadows over Scandinavian legend. Displaying different characteristics depending on the individual Jötunn (Thrivaldi had nine heads), the beings are said to have immense strength, tremendous size and are often understood to have hideous features. Prophesied to be leading protagonists in the Ragnarök battle (lots of gods will die and the world will begin anew) their destructive tendencies frequently lead to conflict with the gods of Asgard and the humans of Midgard whom they attack from their home land of Jötunheimr. If they're not fighting the gods then they are consorting with them and producing offspring so unbelievably epic that only Norse mythology can contain them. Such is their high standing in Scandinavia's spiritual legend that the Jotunheimen mountain range of Norway is named after the giants' home of the Nine Worlds and they loom large as spectacular folk beings that capture the imagination. Here's to the powerful titans wreaking havoc through Viking mythical history.

Day XL - Dwarf

Short master craftsman,

Working away in the dark,

Bearded folk below.

Much-loved as a diminutive figure found across fantasy fiction and disparate strains of folklore, the brilliant bearded form of the Dwarf first comes to us in the Dvergar of Norse mythology. From there, the nature spirits have gone on to command the spotlight across a multitude of European legendary traditions, role-playing games, literature and all other Dungeons Dragons-themed distractions. Characterised by their short height and hairiness, they are associated with death, darkness and the earth (which is understandable seeing as they spend all their time underground) and are respected as expert craftsmen, skilled in magic and metallurgy. Whether they be Viking spirits, "Heigh-Ho" Disney characters or the Tolkienesque types hiding away in the mountains of Middle Earth, it's impossible not to love the miniature heroes. Dwarves (or Dwarfs) deserve a tremendous amount of respect just for being hairy hard-working little men whose all-round excellence has excited the collective imagination of so many cultures. Give a little love to the Dvergar and remember: "never toss a Dwarf..."

Day X - Kraken

Thrashing tentacles,

Waves of devastation foam,

Sea monster rises.

Regardless of how you pronounce it, there is possibly no monster as mind-blowingly awesome as the colossal cephalod that lurks under the ocean: the Kraken. The great ominous creature reckoned as being like a humungo-squid or octopus has made waves across various cultures and types of media - a poem by Tennyson, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea and as Harryhausen creation in Clash of the Titans , for example - but the basis of the legend is probably Norse. Big flip-off, furious squid monster that stirs in the depths and strikes fear into the heart of every sailor: the cephalopod reigns supreme.