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 ʙuттer 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 glᴀss 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

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