Tomte – A Beloved Scandinavian Christmas Gnome
Ellen Lloyd – AncientPages.com - Shortly before Christmas, you can see this little fellow everywhere in Scandinavia. He appears on Christmas cards, in shops, the Christmas tree, outdoors, and places where you wouldn't expect to find him.
Tomtenisse protects animals, and he is happy when you serve him Christmas porridge. Artist Jan Bergerlind - Image source
He is called Tomte or sometimes Tomtenisse, or just Nisse, and he remains one of the most beloved Christmas figures in Scandinavia, but don't let his pleasant appearance fool you.
Tomte can be a naughty little creature if you don't treat him properly. He deserves respect, and he has some expectations. It's up to you to live up to them, or he will make your life miserable.
Somewhat similar to gnomes, the Tomte can be elusive at times. The mythological figure appears in Nordic folklore and Scandinavian literature.
Usually wearing a red (sometimes a grey or white) knit cap, the Tomte is a small older man no taller than 90 cm (3 ft). His white beard and smiling eyes make him look kind, but he can be a real troublemaker.
He secretly lives in, or under, a house and is in charge of the farmwork. He protects animals and children from evil and misfortune. In a way, he is very similar to a house gnome.
Tomte and the Yule goat. Credit: Jenny Nyström
Tomte is a benevolent creature if you treat him with the respect he deserves. He also demands that you treat your animals well, observe traditions, and, most importantly, give them the meal he loves.
"Surround the tomten's Christmas porridge with a moat of honey in addition to the butter pat on top, and he will be especially pleased. The best place to leave his meal is in the stable, for he prefers the company of the livestock.
The gifts presented to him on Christmas morning should include a length of gray homespun out of which he will presumably make his own clothes, a pinch of tobacco, and as much clay as a spade can hold. This last is either a token of his chthonic nature, the material for making a pipe, or an acknowledgment that it was he who laid the first shovelful of earth in the house walls." 1
In Finland, Tomte is known as tonttu, a pipe smoker who won't complain if he gets a glass of brandy alongside his rice porridge.
A Yule goat often accompanies the Tomte. According to Nordic folklore, Tomte refused to work on Thursday nights, leading many to believe he worshipped Norse God Thor.
The history of the Yule Goat goes back several thousands of years, and many ancient myths and legends show how vital this animal was to our ancestors.
In some Norse myths, God Thor was said to be riding a flying chariot drawn by two goats.
It was believed that the goats Tanngrisnir ("Gap-tooth") and Tanngnjóstr ("Tooth-grinder"), who pulled Thor's chariot, provided food for the god and his friends.
On many Scandinavian Christmas cards, Tomte is often depicted together with a goat, standing and looking through a window together. In ancient Scandinavia, an invisible goat was believed to watch if people prepared for Christmas properly.
This ancient tradition is still around, but now people try to sneak a wooden goat that is a Christmas ornament into their neighbors' homes. The presence of the Yule goat should remind them that they are being watched and expected to arrange Christmas according to customs and traditions.
Written by Ellen Lloyd – AncientPages.com
Updated on December 7, 2023
Copyright © AncientPages.co.m All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or part without the express written permission of AncientPages.com
Expand for references2. Cyriax, A. Kellgren. "Swedish Christmas Customs." Folklore 34, no. 4 (1923): 314-21.
More From Ancient Pages
-
Lake Huron Was Home To A 9,000-Year-Old Civilization – Underwater Structures And Artifacts Reveal
Archaeology | Jun 17, 2021
-
Scribes: One Of The Noblest And Highly Recommended Professions In Ancient Egypt
Featured Stories | May 10, 2023
-
New York’s Queen Of Thieves Fredericka Mandelbaum Opened Marm’s Grand Street School For Criminals
Featured Stories | Oct 22, 2019
-
5000-Year-Old Cold Case: Neolithic Fisherman Died By Drowning – Forensic Study Shows
Archaeology | Feb 14, 2022
-
Huge Roman Forum Discovered In Unknown Ancient City In Spain
Archaeology | Sep 4, 2023
-
Comet Strike 13,000 Years Ago May Have Changed Human Civilization
Archaeology | Jul 6, 2021
-
Ice Age Cycles Played A Key Role In Early Human Interbreeding
DNA | Oct 19, 2023
-
Mountain Meadows Massacre: Real Burial Sites Are Far From The LDS Monument’s Location
News | Sep 21, 2015
-
Secrets Of Nanomaterial From The Middle Ages Examined By Scientists
Archaeology | Oct 11, 2022
-
15,000-Year-Old Shell Beads Found Kebara Cave Are The Oldest Known Use Of Organic Red Pigments
Archaeology | Oct 27, 2023
-
Ancient Secrets Of The Black Basalt Statue Of Priest Djedhor Revealed
Artifacts | Feb 26, 2021
-
Mjölnir: Thor’s Terrible Axe-Hammer And Its Magical Powers In Norse Mythology
Featured Stories | Apr 20, 2017
-
On This Day In History: The Battle Of Actium – Sep 2, 31 BC
News | Sep 2, 2016
-
Anomalous Ancient Structures In The South West Pacific Remain Unexplained
Civilizations | May 19, 2018
-
On This Day In History: Gerardus Mercator Famous Mapmaker Of All Time Died – On Dec 2, 1594
News | Dec 2, 2016
-
Kap Dwa – Mysterious Two-Headed Mummified Patagonian Giant – Real Or Fake?
Featured Stories | May 20, 2021
-
On This Day In History: Spanish Priest Diego de Landa Burned The Sacred Books Of Maya – On July 12, 1562
News | Jul 12, 2016
-
Rare Pre-Columbian Archaic Settlement Discovered In The Dominican Republic May Solve A Caribbean Mystery
Archaeology | Apr 12, 2022
-
3,200-Year-Old Mycenaean Statuette Sheds New Light On The Hittites
Archaeology | Jun 22, 2022
-
Mirpur Jain Temple: Stunning Artwork Of Ancient Craftsmen Of India
Featured Stories | May 17, 2021