Once upon a time five of the farmers in Heddal agreed upon building a church in the valley. One of them, named Raud Rygi, one day ran into a stranger who promised to build the church. But on one condition; when the church was finished, Raud had to bring him either both the sun and the moon, the blood of his heart or guess the strangers name. Raud thought it would be more than enough time to discover the man's name, and so he made the deal.
But alas, he didn't get very much time. During the first night all the timber was in place, the second night the tower was raised, and the third day the church would be finished. Fearing for his life, Raud strolled along his fields desperately wondering how to guess the strangers name. Then he heard the most beautiful song coming from inside the nearby mountain:
"Hush, hush, little baby do -
tomorrow father, Finn, will bring to you,
moon and sun and Christian heart
as toys for you, so nice and smart"
The riddle was solved! The builder was the "troll" Finn, who lived in the nearby mountain. That's how Raud saved his life and Heddal got its church. But the troll couldn't stand the sound of the church bells every Sunday, and therefore moved with all his family to the mountain, Himingen.
When you go north from Heddal stave church you'll see the Himingen mountain on your left side.
Taken from www.heddal-stavkirke.no.