The design is named after the beautiful princess Årolilja (lilja = lily)from an old Norwegian folk song from the middle ages. The song tells the story about the tragic love between the peasant Bendik and the princess Årolilja. Årolilja was the king’s daughter and her falling in love with the young peasant Bendik was not approved by the king. He had Bendik killed, and in grief Årolilja took her own life so they could be together in death. The two lovers were buried on opposite sides of the church, but on their graves two lilies started to grow. The two flowers grew towards eachother, and when they met they formed an arch above the church door.
