fylgja

In Germanic mythology, a fylgja (plural fylgjur) is a guardian spirit, often translated as "fetch" or "wraith". It can appear as a woman or an animal, and is typically seen in dreams or at the moment of death. A fylgja may be associated with a specific person or a family and is passed down from father to son. This concept differs from the dísir, which were female guardian spirits, possibly deceased female ancestors, associated with a house, district, or family, and to whom sacrifices were made. Information about these spirits comes primarily from Scandinavian literary sources, particularly from Iceland, written between the 12th and 14th centuries.12