Elven Characteristics

[Galin]

Sorry for any confusion Lisse: when I say Primary World sources I mean 'Real World' sources, like Kalevala, or the Poetic Edda.

Hmm, now I've got to remember what I've read so far in Kalevala about braids. Hard to recall at the moment so I'll do a quick search on the interweb; but I do generally remember the reference 'braid-head' like in the translation given below these first two examples...

Then the fearless Lemminkainen,
Mouth awry and visage wrinkled,
Shook his sable locks and answered:
"Never in my recollection
Have I heard or seen such treatment,
Never have I been derided,
Never suffered sneers of women,
Never suffered scorn of virgins,
Not in my immortal life-time.
Is there any place befitting
On the Sahri-plains and pastures,
Where to join in songs and dances?
Is there here a hall for pleasure,
Where the Sahri-maidens linger,
Merry maids with braided tresses?"

http://www.sacred-texts.com/neu/kveng/kvrune11.htm


'Cause enough for weeping, sister,
Good the reasons for my sorrow:
Therefore come I as thou seest,
On my head no scarlet fillet,
In my hair no braids of silver,
On mine arms no purple ribbons,
Round my neck no shining necklace,
On my breast no golden crosslet,
In mine ears no golden ear-rings.'

http://www.sacred-texts.com/neu/kveng/kvrune04.htm


(...) Over all, around his middle,
A gold-ornamented belt
Woven for him by his mother
When she was a braid-head maiden;
Then the well-embroidered gloves,
Golden-wristed fancy gauntlets (...)

http://kalevala.gov.karelia.ru/songs/song18_e.shtml


Just for some references I found on the web anyway