Tradition: Norwegian Mythology
Alternative Names: Mylingar, Utburd, Útburður, Ihtiriekko, Liekkiö
Category: Ghost
The Myth
A Myling is the restless ghost of an unwanted child who was killed or abandoned by its mother and left without a proper burial. Unable to rest peacefully, the child’s spirit remains in the world of the living, haunting the place where it died or seeking out those responsible for its death. Mylings are among the most feared ghosts in Scandinavian mythology, driven by suffering and a desperate desire to receive the burial denied to them.
Mylings may be heard singing mournfully during the night, revealing the terrible crime that brought them into existence. They also pursue solitary travellers after dark, suddenly leaping onto their backs and demanding to be carried to a graveyard. The traveller must take the spirit to consecrated ground so that it can finally rest. However, the Myling grows heavier and heavier as they approach the cemetery, until the burden becomes almost impossible to bear. The victim may sink into the earth beneath its weight, and anyone who fails to reach the graveyard risks being killed by the furious spirit.
The Myling seeks both recognition and a proper burial. In some traditions, it cries out to passers-by, begging them to give it a name. If someone offers the spirit their own name, the Myling may finally find peace. Another way to release it is to discover its remains and bury them in consecrated ground. Some people attempted to prevent a murdered child from becoming a Myling by placing scissors upon its chest, but this was believed to be ineffective. Only a proper burial could truly free the child from its restless existence.
The Myling’s haunting reflects the fate of children who were secretly killed or abandoned and denied acceptance into the Christian community through baptism and burial in sacred ground. Its suffering can turn into terrible vengeance against the living, especially those responsible for its death. Until its identity is acknowledged and its remains are laid to rest, the Myling continues to wander, demanding justice and release from its earthly torment.
Sources
“Myling.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation. Accessed October 15, 2026. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myling