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All the Faroe Islands Gróthúsvatn’s Witch Rock
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Gróthúsvatn’s Witch Rock

Every summer, women from this small Faroese island cover this specific stone with knitted graffiti.

Sandur, Faroe Islands

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  etiennebara / Atlas Obscura User
  etiennebara / Atlas Obscura User
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The island of Sandoy in the Faroese Archipelago is made up of cliffs, caves, lakes, giant fields of green grass, and lots of sheep.

The picturesque island's scenery is the perfect setting for a slew of local folktales, including Nykur on Vágar, the Seal Women of Mikladalur. According to the tale, the lake of Gróthúsvatn is home to a witch. Legend says that the blind gold-making witch lived in a near by cave called Gívrinarhol, the witch's hole.

Every summer, to honor this legend, the women of the nearby village of Sandur come together to "yarn bomb" a massive rock by the lake, blanketing it in knit fabric. Every year the motif changes, yet always centers around the tale of the famous witch.

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Published

February 27, 2025

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