On a barren and unstable island, the people of Iceland fought an unrelenting battle for survival against the unforgiving forces of nature. They endured harsh living conditions, particularly during the long, cold, and dark winters, where they struggled to find enough sustenance to survive. The crops they harvested were barely enough to feed themselves, let alone their livestock, forcing them to make a difficult choice – to slaughter their precious animals for food, or let them starve.
As they grappled with this dilemma, whispers of a great magic, a spell that could conjure unlimited wealth, circulated among the people – a story told to bring hope to those struggling to survive.
Sorcery and spells
In the frigid land of Iceland, life was a constant struggle against the harsh and unforgiving elements. The people faced bitter cold and biting winds, while their livestock huddled together for warmth. The meager harvests they managed to coax from the land were barely enough to sustain them through the long, bleak winters.
But there was a far greater threat than the biting cold – famine and disease. Illnesses and plagues swept through the farmsteads with alarming regularity, leaving death and despair in their wake. The people of Iceland were left with nothing but their hope, and even that was in short supply.
Living on an isolated island presented a significant challenge for the average person to engage in trade, making it nearly impossible to attain any form of prosperity, save for owning land. However, the predicament was that the affluent individuals had already obtained all the land, making it nearly impossible for the exploited workers and farmers to buy their own property.
Photo: Woman doing laundry in her poverty stricken home.
Desperate for a solution, they turned to the supernatural, seeking powerful magic that could bring them unlimited wealth and prosperity. They knew that such magic did not come without a cost would be great, but they had no other choice. They gathered in secret, invoking ancient spells and incantations in the hopes of harnessing the magic they so desperately craved.
The Spell of the Necropants
And so it was that a particular magic spell became the talk of the town – the infamous “nábrók” or “Death Underpants” spell.
As strange and eerie as it sounded, the spell was said to guarantee unlimited wealth and power to those who performed it. It involved creating a pair of pants made from the skin of a dead man, and then wearing them while performing a series of intricate rituals. (These necropants are sometimes called Skollabrók.)
Necropants
Perhaps one of the most common names for these pants is Finnabuxur which means Finnish Pants. The rumor's have it that they are named so because the Finnish people where the biggest sorcerers of them all.
Mensalder's inheritance
Photo of Papey. Courtesy of Vilhjálmur Bjarnason.
Mensalder Raben Jónsson (1736-1799), lived a life that was the envy of many on the small island off Iceland’s east coast. His family’s wealth came from his father Jón ‘the rich’ Jónsson, who had the prestigious job of looking after the island of Papey.
Jón 'the rich' Jónsson
One day, a Dutch captain arrived on the island, anchoring his ship in the harbor. Jón welcomed the stranger, and before long they had struck up a close friendship. As the time came for the captain to depart, he inscribed his name on a piece of church wood and handed it to Jón, telling him to name his son after him. If he did this, his son would be blessed with great gifts.
Mensalder Raben Jónsson (1736-1799), lived a life that was the envy of many on the small island off Iceland’s east coast. His family’s wealth came from his father Jón ‘the rich’ Jónsson (1705-1750) , who, together with his wife Valgerður Jónsdóttirhad the prestigious job of looking after the island of Papey.
Jón took the captain’s words to heart and named his son Mensalder Raben Jónsson in honor of his friend. Little did Jón know at the time that this simple act would bring great fortune and blessings to his family for generations to come.
Surrounded by poor families, the rumors quickly spread about the witchcraft that had brought Mensalder is great wealth. The people called the necropants Finnabuxur or Papeyjarbuxur (Papey Pants). Everyone knew this was black magic and nothing good came out of such practice. Mensalder had most definitely sold his soul to the devil.
The Dark Magic Ritual That Brought Mensalder the Riches and Eternal Damnation
The black magic ritual that Mensalder performed was said to be one of the most dangerous and powerful spells known to the people of Iceland. He had to recite an ancient incantation that called upon the devil to grant him unlimited wealth. The instructions warned that any mistake in the recitation or any deviation from the instructions would result in dire consequences.
- Get permission from a friend (or any living man that you know) to wear his skin after his death.
- As soon as your friend is dead and buried you must, during nightfall, dig up his body.
- Carefully flay his corpse from the waist down. Make sure not to tear it as the skin has to be intact and in one piece.
- Once you have removed his skin carefully put the skin pants on, making sure not to tear them in the process. The pants will become one with your own skin in all places except the scrotum where the loose skin forms a small pocket.
- During the period between the reading of the Epistle and the Gospel during Christmas, Easter or Whitsun, you must steal a coin from a dirt poor widow – another version says to steal the coin the day after donning the pants -. The symbolism here was very important. Because this was black magic it was meant to pervert the devotional time of worship.
- On a piece of paper, draw the magical stave nábrókarstafur.
- Put the stolen coin and the paper with the magical stave into the scrotum. Removal of the coin or the stave will break the spell.
- Reach into the scrotum for an endless amount of money. Make sure never to remove the stolen coin.
Mindgames
Papey Island by Shadowgate is licensed under CC BY-ND 2.0.
The Price of Unlimited Wealth
Mensalder’s newfound wealth had come at a great cost. The necropants had granted him all the riches he could ever want, but they had also brought about a strange shift in his demeanor. His once-kind nature turned dark, and he started to treat his fellow islanders with suspicion and disdain. And so the whispers began that the necropants were corrupting his mind.
In a world where magic and superstition reign, Mensalder found himself trapped by the very power he sought. His wealth had come at a great cost – one that he was now desperate to pay. He had made a pact with dark forces, and the necropants were his only salvation. For years, he searched for someone willing to take on the cursed garment and spare him the fate that awaited him.
It was a desperate quest, fraught with danger and uncertainty. Many refused his offer outright, terrified by the tales that had spread throughout the land. Others were tempted by the lure of wealth, but quickly regretted their decision.
As Mensalder grew older, his search became more frantic. He knew that time was running out, and that he could not delay much longer. But even as he scoured the land, he could feel the darkness closing in around him. The power that had once seemed so alluring now threatened to consume him completely.
And so he prayed to God, begging for mercy and redemption. He knew that the only way to break the curse was to find someone worthy of wearing the necropants. Someone who could withstand the temptation of unlimited wealth, and resist the lure of the dark forces that had plagued him for so long.
It was a difficult and dangerous journey, but Mensalder was determined to see it through. For his soul was at stake, and he would not rest until he had found the one who could save him from eternal damnation.
How to gift necropants
Papey Island by Shadowgate is licensed under CC BY-ND 2.0.
To avoid being eternally trapped in the devil’s grasp, one must seek out a brave volunteer to wear the necropants. Once a suitable wearer is found, the pants no longer adhere to your skin, freeing you from their cursed hold. But beware, the search for a willing participant is no easy task.
Steps to take off the necropants:
- Undress the right leg first. As you remove your left leg, the new owner must simultaneously dress his right leg.
- Once the process has started, there’s no turning back and the new owner cannot change his mind. If he removes his right leg from the pant sleeve, he will already find himself wearing the left sleeve. The only way he can take them off is by finding a new owner.
Death of Mensalder
It’s no surprise that there are different versions of Mensalder’s death. The one I’ll share with you today happened in 1799. As the sun shone bright and the breeze blew gentle, Mensalder strolled along the island, relishing the beauty around him. He made his way to Gellisbali, a serene spot near Purkubjörg. But his tranquility was short-lived. In a sudden, unexpected turn of events, a furious bull charged at him, causing grievous injuries. The islanders, upon seeing the brutal attack, rushed to his aid and saved his life. However, the incident left Mensalder forever changed, a shadow of his former self.
Another rumor of his death goes as follows: Mensalder's wealth and indulgent lifestyle had made him quite plump. When the sailors of Papey were preparing to set sail one day, they refused to take him on board due to his weight. Later that same day, a violent storm hit the shore, causing the sailors to turn back. Meanwhile, Mensalder was wandering the island, unaware of the impending danger. When the storm hit, it was too late for him to seek shelter. The next morning, the sailors searched for Mensalder and found him dead at Sólskifubali, near Nónborg. His excessive wealth and gluttony had ultimately led to his tragic demise. .
Photo: Papey Lighthouse is located by Nónborg in the area where Mensalder's body was found. Courtesy of Vilhjálmur Bjarnason
Mensalder met his end while still clad in his cursed necropants. He had no heirs to pass on his wealth to, and despite burying much of it in various locations, his fortune remained hidden and undiscovered. The promise of eternal riches through dark magic was only fleeting, and ultimately, Mensalder’s lust for wealth led to his downfall.
Legend has it that even after Mensalder’s death, his wealth still lingers on in Papey. Every so often, some lucky islanders catch a glimpse of a fiery glow emanating from the direction of Mensalder’s hidden gold. Some say it’s the work of the devil, guarding the treasure to keep anyone from getting too rich. Others believe that it’s Mensalder himself, haunting the island and seeking redemption for his past misdeeds. But no matter what the truth may be, the lure of unlimited wealth continues to entice adventurers to this day, hoping to uncover the secrets of Mensalder’s treasure trove.
