Paper short abstract:

There is a growing interest in the re-activation and re-storation of holy wells in Norway, sometimes in unexpected ways, where the water as a natural resource has a central place. This paper explores some of the ways in which the wells are interpreted and used in modern restorative practices.

Paper long abstract:

Holy wells attributed the national Saint Olav in Norway are part of a long history of cultural practices involving re-activations, suppressions, contestations, prohibitions and re-enchantments. They served central functions in the late medieval pilgrimage movement in Norway but became political-religious targets in the protestant reformation. However, into the modern period, historical sources and local legends document a partly lively local cultural and religious practice connected to the wells and this is also the case today.

Scattered around the Norwegian landscape the wells are natural springs of fresh water that historically have been utilized as water reservoirs in small scale for specific cultural and religious purposes. Today we can observe a growing interest in the re-activation and re-storation of the wells, sometimes in unexpected ways, where the water as a natural resource has a central place. This paper explores some of the ways in which the wells are interpreted and used in modern restorative practices.